Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-01-08
SCHEME OF APPoRrloNMENT.

SCHEME OF APPoRTIoNMENT.
One of the important measures to
come before the legislature is the re-
apportionment of the state, and this
is measure that Should be consid-
cred from an entirely non-partisan
and non-factional standpoint. @@@
The constitution provides that t'the
senate shall be composed Of not less
than thirty nor more than fifty mem
bers," and the house shall be "com-
posed Of not less than sixty nor more
than lao 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 inhab-
itants,' and as a guide to the legisla-
ture in determining this matter a
state census as provided by the con-
stitution 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.
It 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 con-
sideration of fairness on the part of
the members from the eastern coun-
ties it is doubtful if any reapportion-
ment that may be finally agreed up
on 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.
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 consideration of economy or de-
mands for proper representation.
The present senate is composed of
forty members and the house has an
even 100. To retain this number
approximately and give to all sections
of the state representation according
to its population will necessitate a re-
duction in the number of members
from the eastern part of the state
and a corresponding increase in the
representation from the western
counties. An effort should be made
however to SO rearrange the sena-
tor1al 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 approx
-nafely 100000. Taking this and the
present membership of the legislature
as a basis there would be one senator
TO every 1000 people and one mem
her of the house to every 4.400 people.
Where a senator is given to a less
number ON account Of observing coun-
ty lines Gas counties cannot be divid-
ed and one portion added to another
to form district) then a correspond
ing decrease should be given in the
house, and where the population ex-
ceeds 1000 and only one senator is
given the district an increase should
be given in the house to equalize the
representation. 1t will be impossible
TO use an exact multiple but the con-
stitution contemplates that the appor-
t,anment shall be SO made that each
district, from the best information
obtainable,5 shall be as nearly equal