The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-07
'REAPPORTI0NNEN1 is
VERYKNOTIY.PROBLEM
Committees at Work Nor { on or Con-
gression;al |; Districts.
CHAN GEs ARE TO BE. MADE
This Will Be Necessary to
EquaIize Population.
NORFOLK WANTS NEW LINES
Desires to .iaye Eastern Shore Counties and
Cut Out Newport News Territory.
Child Labor bill Reported Fav-
orabIy-Committee Work
and Legislative
Gossip.
This VIII Be Necessary to.
EquaIize Population.
NORFOLK WANTS NEW LINES

The bill, drafted by Mr.. Barksdale, pro-
Sv;ding for redistricting the State into
congressional districts, will not be pre-
scnted in the Senate or House of Dele
gates. The Senate Committee on Privl-
leges and Elections is now at work on a
measure of this character. Mr.. Barks-
Gale is member of this committee, and
his careful study of the subject, the re-
suits of which are set forth In the meas
Cre which he drafted, will have large
weight in the formulation Of the scheme
which the committee will report. The
( bill drafted by Mr.. Barksdale will not
lie presented for consideration as such.
however.
The Senate Committee on Privileges
snd Elections will hold a special meeting
Oh Monday night at S. o'clock to take up
the subject of redistricting the State into
congressional districts. Judge Mann, the
chairman cf the committee, has suggested
that each member of the committee ac-
quaint himself with the general features
of the problem before the committee by
drawing UP for himself a scheme OF dl-
vision Of the State into ten congressional
districts OF approximately equal popula-
ton. The purpose of the committee is to
study out and formulate some general
hers of Congress and others interested
in the matter to appear before the com
lnittee. The committee will meet twice
a week hereafter and all who desire To
be heard will be given ample opportunity
NOT IN EASY PROBLEM
The problem before the committee. in
view of the many and diverse interests
affected, is no easy one. The Federal
laws require that the States shall be re-
rfptpH in 1-prar re districts e
equal in popua tion,. connected and com
pact. With the changes wrought by ten
years. some of the congressional districts
have populations as small as $50 600; 9th
ers as large as 10000. BY the last CEN
sus the State should be divided into ten
districts of 10000 population each The
Injustice and impropriety of continuing
the present lines of division addresses it.
self to many. Others, on the other hand
and not few argue for leaving well
enough alono and for the continuance
of the present arrangement. Strange tc.
say, those OF the latter faith are not con.
fined to the district having small popula
ton at this time. 1t is report ted that tn
Ninth District, comprising Southwest
Virginia and which has a population COZ,
siderably over the 10000 average, favors
in large measure the continuance of til
present lines of division. 1t is said thu
SoL STGSSilldil= Itllcd, HUH tlldL ulStl ]
averse to a. change.
WANT SMALLER DISTRICT.
On the other hand Underwater Virgini..
and Norfolk in particular, is asking con
siderable change ia the lines of the Sec
end District. The large increase in popl
lation in this section has given Congress
man AIaynard's district considerably ov'
| 10000 people, probably as much as 3o,OG
Norfolk is asking that the Second Distr'
be composed of Norfolk, Portsmouth, No
| felix county, Princess Anne county a
| the two counties on the Eastern Shorf
Accomac and Northampton This wou
give a population of 172363 according
| t!?a census of 1900. or at least 10000
| this time at present the Second Di
| t,ict has Newport News, Charles Cit
! Elizabeth City, James City, Warwick al
York counties on the north side Of Il
James, and Isle of Wight, Nansemon
| Norfolk city and county, Portsmout
! Princess Anne, Southampton and Sur
I on the south side. of that river. It's vo
!! ing population is over $4,000, as again
1900 for the. Fifth District. At prese
the two Eastern Shore counties fall
the First District. Norfolk people arg
that Acconac and Northampton MOI
l RI, turally fall with Norfolk than with4an
! other district. This change, if carried j.
+; to effect. will occasion a large alnount4f
| discussions for and against. The REQ
sanization of the lines of the Fifth ar
Sixth Districts, which will come In ar
bill Of redistricting. will also provide m
1 teria1 for. debate.
! THIRD MAY BE CHANGED.
One scheme. which has been somewhat
| discussed is to drop from the Third lis
| trict the portion south Of the James River
! and add a few counties to. the east anr'
northeast of Richmond in order to relievs
the First District. which would recei'
/
district and lying north OF the James
| River.
The Bland quarantine bill IS dead. A
| ter hard fight, led by Mr.. Bland, C.
| Portsmouth. ard Mr.. Cromwell, of Nor
| folk county this measure. taking the a..
| pointment of the quarantine officer of th
! port Of Norfolk out Of the appointmers
I of the Governor and placing it in t.,
Portsmouth and Norfolk county, to be
elected alternately from Norfolk and
Portsmouth. has been defeated in tn
/ Senat tie Committee on General Laws. Thas
/ committee held a short session %yesterdo
| after the adj 5ur11nent o. the Senate. Ar
gument pro and con had b7en heard at
| length at previous meetings Of the com
m1ttee. a vote was taken and It was de
/ cided to report the bin with the recon
uendat1on that 1t Shoutd nor pass De
bill had passed the House after hare
tight It will be reported to the Senate ate
| to-day. The friends of the measure have
/ not given up hope that eventually they
| will win out. It is not believed that the
Senate will reverse the action Of the
/ Committee on General Laws on this
measure at this time, however.
argument in the Contested election case
Eof W.. Fulton and Joseph Hibbits was
heard by the House Committee on Priv
iIeges and Elections yesterday afternoon
/ Mr.. Robert W. Blair spoke for an houl
f&o,,d = sIa lfsand Mfr. STalcnJn1 Coles fnr a