The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-15
WESTERN SECTION
WILL GET BENEFIT
REAPPoRTloNMENT IN NORTH
DAKOTA WILL MEAN PRES
TieE FOR SLOPE PORTION
OF STATE.

Williston, N. D., Dec. 15-Legislative
reapportionment, on the programme
for consideration by the coming legis-
tive assembly, will be a big thing 10,
the counties of western North Dakota,
rs 1t is foregone conclusion that a
new apportionment viii mean added
prestige for this section Under the
present apportionment the counties az
the western section, or at least some
Oh them, have not as great a number
or members as they are in reality en-
Titled to. as compared with the condi-
ton in the eastern and older settled
communities.
The new apportionment. which is
provided for under the constitution. it
being prescribed that new apportion-
ment must be made following each
state and national census, will create
hot fight, as several Of such estab-
lished counties as Pembina, Walsh,
Cavalier and Trail are due for a re-
ductlon in members, while such newer
counties as Morton, williams. Ward
and Stark will get increases. Ramsey,
too, will seek for greater recognition
In the assembly.
Faults of Apportionn7ent
Under the present Apportionment
the six Red river valley counties, Penn
bina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Trail, Cass
and Richland, have a total of forty
members, but this number will be re-
duced under the new bill because of
decreases in the population of three
of the counties, Trail, Walsh and
Pembina- The last apportionment OF
the state was made in. 1907, following
the state census
Some OF the glazing faults of the
present apportionment are to be found
in a statement of the several counties
in which reduction an increase of
members is practically certain of be-
ing made. In those in which a de-
crease may be expected the present
apportionment provides for members
as follows: Pembina, with 14,749
population, has two senators and three
house members; Walsh. with 19,491
population, has two senators and FIVE
house members; Trail. with 12,545
population. has one senator and two
while Cavalier, with
1859 population. has two senators
ana three mousse members.
Inequalities Are Shown.
On the other hand, there are Nor
ton, Williams, Mckenzie, Ward and
Ramsey counties that are not on an
equitable basis with these counties.
Morton has a population OF 1928, but
1t has only one senate member and
three houCe members, the same as
Trail County, with it's population only
one-half as great.
Williams and Mckenzie counties
In one legislative district and have a
combined population of 25,969, with
one senator and two representatives
allowed. The predicament of these
two counties is even greater than that
Of Morton county.
Ward county's census report in
cludes Burke and Renyille counties,
which were established since the cen
sus was taken. and it shows that there
are 42,lS5 people in the territory I'm
der the present apportionment these
counties have two senators and seven
Compared with Cass
county, with its population of $685.,
and it's legislative representation OF
three senators and seven house men,
oers, it is readily seen that Ward
county has a just claim for further
recognition.
Rate of Apportionment.
The basis of the new apportionment
Is very uncertain, but the probabili-
ties are that an effort will be made to
keep the senate membership under the
fifty mark. Morton, Williams and Nc
kenzie, Ward and Ramsey counties
are clearly entitled to additional mem
oers in the senate, and to apportio,.
the state means that some other
will have to suffer. A very
probable rate of apportionment will be
1850.