The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-11-30

A FAIR APPORT,oNMENT.

AFFAIR APPoRT,oNMENT.
II the members of the twelfth legis.
lasive assembly respect their oath OF
Office. they will pass an spportion-
ment bill that is fair to every county
in the stste. Every member of the
state senate and every member Of the
honse Of representatives, before he en-.
ters upon his official duties. will make
the following declaration.
~ do solemnly swear or afirmI
that 1 will support, protect and'defend
the constitution of the United 6tates
and the constitution of the stste Of
Montana, and that l will discharge
the duties of my Office with fidelity;
and that ! have not paid OF contribut-
ed. or promised to pay or contribute,
either directly or indirectly. any
money OF other vslusbleithing to pro.
cure my nomin alton or election Tor
appointment except for necessary
and proper expenses expressly author
lied by law that l have not knowing
~ violated any election law Of THE
state, or procured i'll to be done by
others IN my behalf; that l will not
knowingly receive, directly Or indirect.
II, any moneylor other valuable thing
for the performancel or n~on.perform.
snc Of any act or duty pertaining to
my Office other THAI the compensation
allowed BY law. So help me Cod"
Each member OF Ne assembly hsv.
ing given bis word OF honor to sup.
port tho constitution OF the state Of
Montana, the requirements Of Section
2, Article vi Of that document call for
his attention. GThe section 10 to this
effect:
1.-THE legislative assembly shall pro.
vide by law for an enumeration OF the
inhsbisants!of the state in the year
1895 and every tenth year thereafter;
and at the session following such
enumeration. and also At the session
next following an enumeration made
by the authority of the United States.
shall revise and adjust the apportion.
ment for representatives on the basis
of such enumeration according to
ratios to be fixed by law"
Great injustice has been inflicted
upon the residents OF various parts of
Montana by the failure Of former legis-
lstive assemblies to live up to the de.
mands OF this constitutional require.
ment. Several counties have made q
great advance In population and
wealth, and under the provisions OF
the constitution are entitled to q cor.
responding increase 10 their represen.
tation In the state legislature. Other
counties have not experienced q simi-
lar growth, and the result Is q mem :
bership In the legislative assembly
that does not correctly aud fairly rep
resent the various constituencies.
These conditions call for the action
implied by the oath OF Office by which
every member OF the state senate and
house Of representatives declares he
will support the constitution OF the
state OF Montana.
The relative Importance OF the sew
eral counties In the:matter Of popula'
ton as developed by the recent federal
census is not known lat this writing,
but an interesting comparison upor
the basis of assesssble wealth was re-
Gently compiled by the Yellowstone
Journal. This exhibit shows the as
sessed valuation Of property in eacl
county last year and Its representation
IN the lower house of the Legislative
Assembly IS follows:
FIRST CLASS.
Number of Assessed