The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-01-24
REINFORCEMENT
COUNTY OPTION

st. Paul, Jan. 23.-While as yet
nothing has been done towards fran
ing a reapportionment bill and all al
legged plans are based on mere con
lecture, reapportionment continues tt
be live topic of corridor discussion
at the state capitol The joint reap
portionment committee has held its
first meeting and as a basis on which
to work agreed substantially that the
senate shall be composed of not more
than sixty-three members and the
house of not more than 1875.
!. i. !.
AS a result of this tentative agree
ment resolutions were simultaneously
introduced in both houses declaring ii
to be the opinion of the members that
the limitation of membership should
be as above stated. This for the pur.
pose merely of testing the sentiment
of the legislature. Neither branch, how
ever, was quite ready to go even sc
far as this, and the reluctance to make
a declaration of any kind is taken tc
indicate the disposition of the opposi.
ton to reapportionment to play for de
lay at every turn.
One thing which, at all events on
the surface, appears, more than any
other, to give the country members
reason for delay, is the greatly in
creased representation which any bill
based solely on population, as it must
be to comply with the constitution
will give the large cities. They pro-
fess to fear that this will make the
delegations from these cities practi
cally the rulers of this state. 1t is said
that, by combining, as it is alleged
they do, the representatives of these
cities already WELD an influence detri-
mental to the state at large. If their
representation is greatly increased, it
is claimed, the people of the state will
be practically at the mercy of the cit
les and the interests which ordinarily
control the greater part of their rep
resentation.
Whether this plea is made in good
faith or whether it is merely pre-
tense under which senators anxious to
hold their seats or interests which
have Interior objects to gain by their
retention in Office hope to stave off re-
apportionment is not clear. At all
events it is plain that there is a pow
erful and determined faction in both
house and senate which will exhaust
every effort to defeat the enactment
of a reapportionment law at this ses-
sion A bill for constitutional amend
ment introduced by Senator Works of
Mankato, who is openly opposed to re-
apportionment at this session, indi-
Gates one of the devices which will be
made use of to defeat the project. I'm
der this bill it is required that twice
the number of voters in cities of over
100000 population shall be necessary
to elect a representative or senator
that are required in districts in which
the population is more widely dis
persed. 1t is not believed that there
| is much chance of the legislature sub
hitting a constitutional amendment OF
| this kind to the people, but it will GER
| tainly evoke lively, and quite posi-
| bly, an acrimonious debate, which will
| at least serve the purpose of those
anxious to delay the enactment of a
reapportionment law.
| J. !. !.
With the introduction of the resolu
ton to which / have referred the reaI
work of the senate has commenced
Activity in another direction will be
! induced by the introduction of the
county option bill, which has long beer
anticipated with interest. The bill as
! prepared by the committee, though
quite lengthy, is simple enough in its
provisions. All elections under thu
county option bill must be held OF
some day other than that on which {
/ general election is held. The cleo
lions are by petition, which must b.
signed by at least 25 per cent of tht
voters, the vote for governor beins
taken as a basis. Upon receipt of thu
petition it is the duty of the count.
auditor to call an election and give thu
required notice. A county option cleo
ton can only be held once in thre'
years. No matter which party win
three years must elapse before an
other such election can be held.
!. !. !.
On the carrying of county option
election in favor of the prohibition 0
the liquor traffic within that county
all local option laws, city, TOWNSHIP
or village, are suspended. In othe
words, every township, city and vi
lage in the county must go dry no ma
Ger what may have been decided pre-
viously by the voters of such toWr
ship, city or village. If licenses hav
been granted they must be surre1
dered and the legalized traffic ceas
within sixty deays. Provision is mad.
however, on the surrender of the
; cense for the return to the licensee {