The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-06-28

Apportionnent of
REPRESENTATION

During the closing days of the ses-
sion, an attempt was made to take
UP the aportionment bill out of its
regular order, but the necessary two
thirds vote for waiver of the rules
could notrbe secured in order to take
the bill off the calendar. The Tampa
fair bill, which was a donation, Sc
cured consideration, but the appor-
tionment bill, which was not only
more important in essence, but a
, clear duty imposed by the constitu-
ton, died on the calendar when, under
a waiver of the rules. it perhaps could
have been enacted into law.
In discussing this matter, the
Tampa Times in recent issue says:
There is no use now to scold and
fume about the legislative neglect of
duty in the matter of reapportiOn.
ment, nor is it perhaps worth while
70 recall the promise of Governor
Broward TO reconvene the body after
adjournment that it might repair the
omission. Not to speak of the mani
fest injustice to the larger counties
involved in depriving them of repre-
sentation to which they are entitled,
this disregard of law by the makers
OF 1T has a demoraliZing effect on the
people at large. When the legisla-
ture itself neglects a plain duty de-
volved upon it by the constitution,
how can the common herd fail to be
infbued with careless contempt for
all law?
In all republican governments, the
world over, representation in the law
making body ia based upon pouiation
1t might also be added to a clear
understanding of the situation to note
that increase in population is accom-
panied by compounded increase in
business and other interests that e.
qufre the guidance and protection of
the law. IL cannot fail to be a dis
advantage TO prosperous and fast
growing counties of Florida that they
are deprived of a fair and full share
of representation in the legislature.
Nor do the smaller and stationary
counties seem to derive any COM
pensatory advantages, unless we may
count as such the pocketing OF the |
wages of legislators to whom they are !
not entitled
The makers of the constitution |
made a mistake when they limited
the number of legislators to one hun. |
dred. They seem to have thought !
the state had reached the limit of |
its growth, or that in the future the |
people would take delight in depriv-
ing small counties of representation /
in order to bestOw it on those counties
which had grown in wealth and popu-
lation. 1t would have been right for
the governor to have made good on
his threat or promise 60 reconvene
the legislature and hold it in session /
until 1t had passed a suitable and
Just reapportionment
The Journal does not remember
Governor Broward saying that he
would reconvene the legislature in
extra session if they failed to comply
with this particular section of the
but we believe he 4
would have been justified in doing SO.
The legislature of 1897 failed to
comply with this reapportionment
section, and no attempt was made
from that year until 1902, assumedly
because the constitution requires il
to be done every ten years. IL this
Is so, then the state can look for no
relief in this matter until 1917. which
Will carry the original apportionment
over period of thirty years.
The st. Augustine Record has a
title innocent and good-natured fun
1t our expense in the following para
graph.
glazing headline in the Pensacola
Journal says that the plaza in that .
'ity is to be beautified with popular
st. Augustine has a | {
'laza that the Ancient City takes a !
pecial pride in keeping clean and at i
ractive, the work being dependent in {
arge measure on the gnerosity of I
citizens, but up to date I
popular subscriptions" have not been / I
lsed for decorative purposes. i,
Well taken. and truly said, oh *
Yet was our expression cor =
ect, as thou wouldst know vert thou In
s informed as We upon the fact that Ft
ur plaza would not be beautif1ed d
Without popular subscriptions.