The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-06
LEGISLATION REAPPORTION.
MENT.

Mississippi is again clamoring for
a constitutional convention. Accord
ing to the Times-Democrat, the Mill
tant prohibitionists, the antj-prohibi-
tionists, the advocates of an elective
| judiciary. South Mississippians clam
oring for legislative reapportionment,
| are all anxious for a constitutional
convention. The prohibitionists are
anxious to see prohibition written in
the organic law, rather than into
statutes, easily subject to repeal, in
case of a revulsion of popular senti-
ment, although it is hard to under
stand why they should not be repealed
| If public opinion should ever demand
it. On the other hand. the anti-prohi-
bitionists are working to the same end
and in the hope of securing a dispen-
sary law in place of the present pro-
hibition statute
The Times-Democrat very pertinent
the liquor problem will give material
aid in securing the convention before
which the advocates of the other
measures will be able to obtain a
hearing, but it is a doubtful matter,
says that paper, whether the advocates
of an elective judiciary or of legisla
tive reaupportionment will be able to
get hearing for their measures in view
of the squabbling between The prohi-
bitionists and anti-prohibitionists.
"Of all the questions to be consid-
cred, if constitutional convention
is called" says the es-Democrat,
rreapportionment seems to be the
least controversial since the justice
of the South Mississippi demand is
very generally conceded"
1t will be remembered that about
four years ago the advocates of reap
portionment sanctioned the repal Of
section 256 of the constitution, which
was done on the ground that the taF'
ng of a state census imposed on the
state was an unnecessary expense, in
asmuch as the Federal government
takes a decennial census. South Mis-.
sissippi's representatives in 49, the
House Joined those of other counties
in conscentiously endeavoring to cut
the state, little thinking that the ac
ton would cause them such endless
trouble and agitation. However, the
men who took this action could not
forsee the phenomenal growth of the
southern counties.
Under the old clause, which pro-
vided for a state census to be taken
decennially, it was specified that "the
Legislature may, at the first session
after the state census of 1895 and de-
cennially thereafter make a new ap-
portionment of senator's and repre-
sentatives. This, as has been stated,
was repealed solely to save the state
what seemed to be an unnecessary ex-
pense. At the time, it was impossi-
long before that within few years
long mefore time for the next Federal
census-South Mississippi would cry
out over the pitifully meager repre-
sentation allowed her.
Had the above clause not been re-
moved from the organic law Of the
state, a census would hive been taken
in 1905, which would have shown con-
c1usively the rapid strides made by
South Mississippi, industrially and
commercially, and in number of pop
ulation. From this census, it could
easily have been shown that this sec
ton was entitled to more adequate
representation, and at the first legls-
1ative session after the state census
Of 1905, a new apportionment of SEN
ators and representatives could have
been called for. This would have
meant the legislature which convened
more than two years ago