The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-02
Republican Senate Has 1t in
Its Power to Block Any Sell
fish Moves of the Demo-
cratic House.
ENUMERATION OF
STATE VOTERS MADE
Seems Certain That Next Leg
isIature Will Have to Deal
With Question of Change in
Primary Law.
BY Ellis Searles.

Indianapolis, Ind. Dec. 2.-Much
that will follow the PRONUNCIATION of
the rule by President Roosevelt, yes
terday. placing all fourth class post
masters on the classified list. This
compels all such postmasters to pass
civil service examinations before they
may be appointed to the position.
Heretofore fourth class postmastcrs
have been a political asset of the con-
gresham and the senator ever since
the postoffice department was estab-
lished, and the fourth class postmas-
ter was most important factor In all
political campaigns.
The new order of the president ap-
plies to states north of the Ohio river
and east of the Mississippi, and in
cludes Maine, New Hampshire. Ver-
mont. Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin and Michigan. The order
will of course. have the effect of rails
ing the standard of the fourth-class
postmasters, but it is feared that it
will spread CONSERVATION among the
applicants. who have always gone on
party entitled them to places. The
new order IL taken to mean that Pres.
ident Roosevelt thinks more of cffi-
cient service than he does of the po-
litical influence of the postmasters.
There are six thousand of the fourth
class postmasters who are affected by
the order.
Question Of Reapportionment.
One of the present uncertainties is
whether or not there will be a reap
portionment of the state at the next
session of the legislature for legisla,
tive purposes. This is the time for
such action to be taken by the legis,a,
/ turc. The constitution of the state OF
Indiana provides that every six years
the legislature shall reapportion, or. as
it is more commonly called, gcrryman.
der the state and so arrange the coun-
ties into districts as to enable them
to elect members of the legislature &C
cording to their population.
| Ever since the election there mas
been a general impression among dem
ocrats that they would be able to ger
rymander the State in such way that
| they would be surc to control the 1911
session of the legislature and to franc
up the congressional districts so as tc
enable them to elect more democratic
congressman. But they are probably
doomed to disappointment, for tine
prospect is that the democrats will mo-
be able to carry out the plan. 1t mus
be remembered that while the demo
Gratis will have a majority in the house
so large that they can do anything
! they please in that branch of the gcn
eral assembly, the senate will still bt
republican BY three votes, and any
thing in the line of a gerrymander tha
the democrats attempt, will surely bt
| blocked by the republicans, if it is no
fair apportionment.
| Under the law a re-apportionmcn
act must take the same course in thu
legislature that any other measur,
or bill takes. and must be passed b!
| DOlu HOUSES separately DeIOTe 1t cal
become law. So it is easy to Sc,
that neither party is in 4 position t.
pass such bill if the other party oh
jects.
Under these circumstances it is be
, lieved that the apportionment will re
main as it is at present. 1t is entirel,
satisfactory to the republicans and un
less the Democrats are willing to b.
fair in framing a new one the presen
arrangement will surely stand.
Voters Enumerated
Under the law also the State Audito
is required before the session opens a
, which the reapportionment is made
to enumerate the voters by counties
for the information of the Legislature
This has been done by the auditor. H
has found that the total vote of tn,
state is 1922, of which 1905 is col
ored. The average voting population
of each congressional district, is %
| 325. But the division is not at al
| Continued From Page Eight.)