The weekly examiner., 1901-04-27
REGARDING REPRESENT
 ATVE REFORM.


 week to ask why it is The Examiner doesn't have something to say in re- gard to the matter of constitutional convention, now being agitated so much within and without the walls of our state capitol. We reply that The Examiner has had nothing to say on the subject so far because of itself not being agitated in the least by the com motion. While believing that the ad- vocates of a change of representation in the general assembly have all the better of the arguments advanced in the case; still, under conditions and circumstances as we find them, we are not encouraged to look for any especial benefits to the people of the state in general as likely to come from any changes asked for. The contention seems to be for a greater number of representatives in the law-making body from the larger towns than at present k isns s1sssIf ssf there is anything else, it has escaped our observation And here the query
 
 tional representatives to do for the better advancement of the peoples in terests when they reach the halls of legislation more than the present num- Der have been in the habit of doing for us? What is it that is mapped out for them to do in this direction by those who seem to take such a lively interest in the matter? Nothinglsat least nothing that we have heard of
 On the other hand, what more of an enlightened interest are the people themselves taking in their own mate rial condition to force their represen- tatives to do anything for them, than has been seen in the past? Who will say that there is any such interest manifest? Of what benefit then can additional lawmakers be to the com monwealth? We can only see dis advantage. It will be an additional ex- pense to the people, and not only for the additional salaries involved, but for the additional expense also that must be incurred consequent on the
  for it is a we'll known fact that the greater number of people drawn to- gether for conference and action, the longer the time taken in the consum- nation of the work in hand, and gen orally the poorer is the quality of the work performed.
 Tn our opinion this is practically a battle of the big town and city poli- ticians for the better opportunity big ger representation would afford some of them of shining as lawmakers them selves. We are forced to this view of the matter from the fact of the Ire formers" never giving us bill of par ticulars as to what is to be done by the larger delegation that the smaller omitted or refuses to do. If the peo- awakening, it would be different, but they don't. The politicians, at the in stance of the monopolistic interests, have them bound hand and foot and there they remain in abject servility. True, they grumble and growl and sometimes dep1ore their comparatively unfavored condition in life, but that is all Not step will they take, a moment expend, or penny invest in any undertaking calculated to rid them of the causes of the things they com plain of, nor can they be brought to manifest the least appreciation of the efforts of those who would do this for them.
 All of which is respectfully submit ted to our inquiring friend as the req son why The Examiner has been silent on this very momentous question-from the politicians standpoint.