Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-03-09
Ward Representation in Council.


In Thursdays Gazette it was pointe'
out that new apportionment in boil
branches of the City Council would b.
necessary in order to conform to tina
portion of the Constitution "to give al
far as practicable, to each ward OF such
city equal representation in each branch
of said Council in proportion to the pop
ulation of such ward" The plain En-
gIish of this is that the present ward
lines must be changed or the present
representation must be changed to meet
. conditions. 1t is quite natural to those
living in the small wards that feeling
of sentiment appeals to them to main
tain present ward lines and at the same
time maintain the present voting strength
in the city legislature. The Council
may increase or diminish the number
and change the boundaries and wards OF
the city, but they must take note of the
numbers in the wards under the basis of
the last census. The registration last
October was made in the wards as pro-
vided in section 2 of the city charter;
changes in ward lines will require trans
fer from the large wards to the small
ones. The representation in Council
may be increased or diminished. An in
crease is out of the question. Baltimore
has two branches, enc of eight the other
of twenty-four members. We might
easily get along with half that number,
selected with the expectation and re-
auirements. of having them attend COM
mittee and Council meetings. The cen
sus of 1900 is as follows: First ward,
2.4O5; Second ward, 1888 Third ward,
6,2l9; Fourth ward, 4,O2l. On the
basis of population the Third ward must
have a representation three times that
of the Second ward. This disparity in
numbers is emphasized by male adults
listed for taxation by the Commissioner
of Revenue: First ward, $50; Second
479; Third, 1875; Fourth, 976.
A bill retaining the present ward lines
could provide for, say, fifteen members
of the Common Council, based on one
member for each 1000 inhabitants and
fraction over 500. In the Board OF
Aldermen, seven members, one for each
1000 and fraction over 200. This
would give the First and Second wards
each |, the Third 8, and the Fourth 2
in the Aldermen, and the First ., the
Second 2, the Third 6, and the Fourth
4 in Council. Under this apportion-
ment it would not require as many votes
to set aside veto of the Mayor as at
present, and odd numbers would I've in
both chambers. The census OF 1900
gives but 2, 4O5 population to the First
ward, Sc less than the number required
for their representation, under the above
pIan. 1t cannot be doubted that this
increase of sc is in evidence. The row
of houses erected by Alderman Hill
and the Packard houses are now Oc-
cupied. besides the First ward
has always been considered prolific.
The Second ward is 1T short of the
9. 900 required for two representatives
Int comes under the $500 or fraction
over" The 2l9 over 5000 must wait
until the Third ward grows to 6,5Ol.
Based on those persons residing in the
four wards of voting age, found and
listed for taxation in 1902, under the
apportionment of fifteen in Council,
each councilman would representatives,
ward 1913 votes, the Second 239, the
Third 262 and the Fourth 242. But
population. not voting strength,
must guide the City Council inpreparing
the law, yet they are much the same If
an apportiOnment is made under either
If we use the males of voting age as
partly guide to fix an apportionment,
and extend the ward lines of the Second
ward so as to embrace all that portion of
the city north of the middle of Prince
street and east of the middle of Wash
ington street, the result is: Third ward
1861. Second ward 1893. Should the
line be extended to Columbus street it
would be Third ward 1929, Second ward
995 The First ward need not have
Columbus street as a western boundary.
If extended on the west to st. Asaph
street it would be, First ward III,
Fourth ward S54; if extended to Wash
ington streetit would be First ward Sl5,
Fourth ward ISL. The Gazette is not
to be understood as urging or advocating
any particular plan or apportlonment
and its figures are based only upon what
it believes to be approximately correct.
The whole matter will be considered Dy
the CITY Council, and it is believed will
be settled in an equitable and practical
manner and also to the satisfaction OF
every one.