The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-23
cRITIcIsING TIE CENSUS.
4 Declaration That 1t Is Political
Device in Maryland

FREDERICK, Md, Jan 23-In n inter-
view on the subject of an extra session
of the General Assembly, L Victor
Baughman said:
4 feel that Governor Smith should have
the endorsement Of his party IN all great
questions affecting the interests CT the
people and that it should not be expected
OF the Governor TO attempt 20 force such
matter upon the citizaas OF the State
The people always res yect z man who is
bold enough TO advocate what ne thinks
10 be right and, therefore, If the Demo
cratic leaders have any good reasons for
calling an extra session they should 8e
willing 10 give them 10 the public and
thus give the Governor reason to act
even If he is thoroughly convinced him
self or the necessity OF such q step. One
great issue seems to have been over
looked The superintendent of represen-
taticn in the House Of Delegates Is made
either according to the return of each
national census or upon the basis OF an
enumeration made under the aus horitv CT
the State. An enumeration under the au-
thOrity of the State is permitted by ser
tionz 3, 4, and Of Article III Of the state
constitution. Unless such an enumera-
tiOn s made the national census must
govern
WV II - 5S-4NAe liAy bCLAeEGu LE6L the
census of 1909 is Inaccurate It is at
least singular that there should be a pro-
nounced increase OF population in those
counties watch are almost certain 10 re-
turn Republicans 10 the House of Dele
gates, while in counties usually Demo-
cratic there has been, with the execution
OF Montgomery, no increase at all. or NOT
sufficient increase CT population 10 give
an additional representative If the be
lief that there are errors in the census
be well founded it would be manifestIv
wrong TO base the representation upon
the census, and yet this would have 10
be done unless the Legislature made pro
vision for an enumeration under the au-
thorIty OF the State. But there will be
no regular session of the Legislature IN
til after the next election and at the next
election the appOrUonmenJ made by the
census would have TO be acted on if there
were no intervening legislative session
There can be no intervening legislative
action unless an extra session of the Gen
eral Assembly be convened. II, then. il
be desirable TO thwart an apportiOnment
founded on an inaccurate census the Leg
islature must be convened so that it may
make provision for an accurate enumer-
alton
This would not be calling the Legfsia-
ture together to do something which it
ought 10 nave done, but which it failed to
do, at the regular session; but it would be
calling the Legislature together to remedy
an error which no one could reasonably
anticipate would be committed and which
has arisen since the adjournment of the
regular session If it be true, as has been
intimated, that the enumeration made bv
the census was designedly made to give
Republicans an advantage in the member
ship OF the House to which upon an accu-
rate count of the population they are not
entitled, there ought 10 be no hesitation
in defeating the scheme And as the only
way to defeat the scheme is to substitute
State enumeration for the census. and
as that can only be done by the LegisIa-
ture, 1t necessarily results that there
should be an extra session convened for
the purpose Of enacting such legislation
as may be requisite on this subject.
This is view altogether apart from
and independent of the suffrage question.
and even though there may be differences
Of opinions as to the policy of that meas
ure there can scarcely be { dissent from
the propriety of an immediate enactment
of appropriate legislation to prevent an
improper apportionment of the member
ship of the House of Delegates