The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-04-16
A Good Resolution
But Poorly Worded.

The text of a joint resolution for
a constitutional amendment in the
matter of apportionment which Will
shortly be introduced in the legisla-
ture was forwarded from Tallahassee
and printed ia The Journal Tuesday.
The effective part of the resolution
is contained in the second section
which reads as follows
Sec >. The legislature that con-
Tenes in 1913 and thereafter shall
consist Of one senator from each
county in the state and one repre-
sentative in the legislature at large,
and one additional representative for
every fifteen thousand population or
fractional part thereof in excess OF
seven thousand and five hundred,
provided no county shall have more
than four representatives in the
house of representatives
Making the senate represent a
geographical district and the lower
house represent the people is of course.
the proper plan, conforming as it does
TO the system of government re-
garded as the American ideal. 1t
strikes The Journal, however, that the
plan for representation in the lower
house is not all that 1t should be.
In the first place, the language is
somewhat ambiguOus-the last thing
one would wish in a constitutional
provision. Ambiguity in laws of ev-
cry description have been the chief
cause OF litigation throughout the
world-a good thing for the lawyers,
but an infictiOn upon the parse, pa
thence and policies of the people. The
reading of the first half of the section
should be but one representative at
large in the entire state. Would it not
he we'll after the words each county
in the state" TO strike out the word
and and insert a comma; after the
words "One representative in the leg
islature at large" TO add the words
from each county,"
In the second place the allowance
of an additional member for the frac-
ton of $4,000 population when the
Fraction shall exceed 1900 is not fair
In that way a county with but 5000
population would have the same repre-
sentation as a county of % 600, the
latter being not far from three times
the size of the former Would it not
be well TO limit the representation to
one for each $1,000, Hat? Thus the
county with 5000 population. before
cited, would have but one representa-
tive while the county with $4,000
would have two; nor would the former
he entitled to two until its population
should reach $1,000 nor the latter TO
three until its population should reach
Sc, 900,
AS the scheme of representation in
che lower house is based on population,
We can see no reason for limiting
a county to four representatives des.
pite the fact that its population might
reach a figure under the $4,000 basis
deserving five or more. It may, per
maps, be argued that as the popuIa-
ton of the state grows the house of
representatives would become too
large and cumbersome a body. But #
this danger is threatened would it not
be better to avoid it by giving the
legislature power from time TO time
20 increase tle basis of representa-
tion and thus preserve forever a jus.
ratio between the different counties?
Amended, as The Journal suggests.
the section would read:
Section .. The legislature that con
venes in 1918 and thereafter shall
consist of one senator from each
county in the state. one representative
in the legislature at large from each
county and one additional representa-
tive for every fifteen thousand popula-
ton Gin each county,.
OF course. the balance OF tie resolu-
ton would have 10 be altered to con-
form TO this and a section added con-
ferring upon the legislature the power
TO change the basis OF representation
when considered necessary.
The Journal has no intention OF
ubtruding its thoughts upon those
whose particular business il is 10