Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-01-23
SCHEME OF APPORIIONMENT
How 70 Equalze the Representation and Not Increase the
Size Of the Legislature THAT'S the Question

The following article appearing in the
Bismarck Tribune of the 9Th inst may
not have been read by many who will
have to do with the makeup Of a new
apportionment for the state 1t is re-
produced as guide to those who may
have in mind measure of this kind,
and it will not be found an easy matter
to frame satisfactory bill that will leg
islate number ;of senators out of office,
reduce representation here and increase
| it there:
One of the important measures to-
come before the legislature is the rcap-
portionment Of the state, and this is a
measure that should be considered from
an entirely nom bipartisan and non-fa
tional standpoint.
The constitution provides that sthe
senate shall be composed of not less
than thirty nor more than fifty mem
bers, Z and the house shall be com
posed of not less than sixty nor more
| than 140 members"
The constitution also provides that
the legislative assembly shall fix the
number of senators and DIVIDE the state
into as many senatorial districts as
there are senators, which districts, as
nearly as may be, shall be equal to each
/ other in the number of inhabitants"
and as a guide to the legislature in de-
ternining this matter a state census as
provided by the constitution was taken
in 1905. The legislature, however, can
and should take into consideration the
growth of the state or any relative
changes that may have occurred since
the taking of the last census.
1t is admitted, without dispute, that
the increase in population in the west
ern part of the state has been SO rapid
that even with the greatest considera-
lion of fairness on the part of the mem
beers from the eastern counties it is
| doubtful if any reappo rtionment that
may be finally agreed upon will do
this great western empire justice. In
some sections of the state the increase
in population has been from twenty-five
to fifty per cent since the census was
taken two years ago. h
1t is generally conceded and strenu-
ously urged by the press, especially of
the eastern part of the state, that our
legislature is now large enough and any
considerable increase in its membership
| will not be justified by any considera-
ton of economy or demands for proper
representation.
| The present senate is composed Of
forty members and the house has an
Ieyen 100. To retain this number APP
proxiinately and give to all sections Of
the state representation according to its
population will necessitate reduction
in the number of members from the
eastern part of the state and cores
ponding increase in the representation
from the western counties An effort
should be made however to so rearrange
the senatorial districts and group the
counties as to make as few changes in
the present districts as possible.
The population of the state as shown
| by the last census is approximately 49,
600 Taking this and the present mem
bership of the legislature as a basis.
| there would be one senator to every H.
900 people and one member of the house
to every 400 people Where a senator
IS given to a less number on account of
observing county lines Gas counties can
not be divided and one portion added to
another to form distriet) Then cor
responding decrease should be given in
/ the house, and where the population ex-
ceeds I 700 and only one senator is
given the district an increase should be
given in the house to equalize the rep
resentation. It will be impossible to use
| an exact multiple but the constitution
contemplates that the apportionnlent
shall be SO made that each district from
the best information obtainab1e, shall be
as nearly equal as possible.
| Without at this time going into the
details of district boundaries or the
number of the districts, the following
table may serve as a guide to a new
apportionment:
County Population Senate Hcuse
5Rarnes 5.ssf.t 1570R 1 "A