The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-15
CHASE SUGGESTS
NEW DISTR|CTING
Senator From Dickinson Works
Out Apportionment Under
1910 Census.
FINDS MANY INEQUALITIES
Gives Richmond Six Delegates
and Three Senators, With
Idenrico.
FINDS MANY INEQUALITIES

one Of the poblems Of absorbing IN
tercst before the neM Legislature viii
be the reapportionment OF the state
Tor representation in the General AS
sembly in accordance with the new
census figures OF course, in ten yaars
there are so many changes as 10 leave
Inequalities in apportionment and. as
some sections Of Virginia have shown
rapid Development since the census II
1900 was taken. it viii be necessary
TO rcarrange many districts for repre-
soutation in each house
on this subject, senator Roland H..
Chase of Dickinson county. has worked
out system CT apporuonment which
he has sent The Times Dispatch. lie
bases his Encouragement on ,ao new
census figures by cities and counties,
and in many instances it is believed,
his suggestions will be of value. There
will as matter OF course, be dit
ferences of opinion regarding many
Of the propositions.
Tsichmond Gnins.
1t is Of i..tercst that he would give
Richmond sis members of the House,
instead of five. as at present. and LAT
he would allow the city and Henrfco
county three members Of the Senate,
Just this result was suggested by The
yimes-Dispatch in connection with tho
announcement of the population Of the
state.
senator chasc's idea would. it is
presumed, be carried out If an ar
rangement were made whereby Rich
mond We're given two Senator'S and a
third would be elected as a. iloater
from the city and county
Senator Chase says that he has laid
out the districts without regard TO
political consequences. In the absence
of this explanation 1t would probably
have been thought that he had ar
ranged things in some instances so
as TO increase Republican representa-
tion. In cases where Republican coun-
tics have grown largely in popula-
tlQn this is, Of course. inevitable and
equitable. Yet. ii would seem that the
Legislature will hardly 60 so far as to
arrange districts on new lines with
tic idea OF giving that party great
CT number of certain seats than it
now enjoys, and do violence to dis
trict lines in the process.
Some Results.
For instance it will he noted in
Senator Chascis table which follows.
that he puts Wythc Bland and Gray
son together as the Fifth District and
that he makes Giles, Pulaski and Car
RON into the sixth Now this would
give the Fifth which Is now doubt
FIJI district a population Of only 45,-
tss, making il the smallest district IN
the State in population, and with 6,I5S
people below the average Thus the
Legislature would 90 out of its way
10 make a certain Republican district.
FOR with Pulaski about a tie. and Giles
giving, say 500 Democratic majority,
The big Republican vote in Carroll
would have that effect
Besides IT would divide the Fifth
sud Sixth Senatorial Districts up be-
tween the Ninth and Fifth Congress
sional Districts instead of leaving
them separate as at present
IT will be noted that leaving the
Fifth as at present constituted. with
Wythe, Bland. Pulaski and Giles, the
population would be 54,S97 or only
2.S57 away from the average,
Political Complexion.
Under this arrangement, the First,
Second Third. Fifth, Sixth and
Seventh Districts would be certainly
Republican, the Fourth nearly so, and
the Twentieth very doubtful. On the
other hand tho Sixteenth District.
now corresponding with the Seventh
would 80 from doubtful district to