The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-06-07
In conducting campaigns for nomina
ton and election.
Legislative Reapportionment

In conducting campaigns for nominal
ton and election.
Legislative Reapportionment.
Section %, Article Nv, of the Con-
stitution of the state, provides: The
legislature shall provide by law for
an enumeration of the inhabitants of
this state in the year 1866 and every
tenth year thereafter. At their first
session after each enumeration so
made and also at their first session
after each enumeration made by the
authority of the United States, the
legislature shall have the power to
prescribe the bounds of congressional,
senatorial and representative districts,
and to apportion anew the senators
and representatives among the sew
eraI districts, according to the provi-
slons of Section of this Article"
Section 2, Article ", provides:
pose the senate and house of repre-
sentatives shall be prescribed by law,
but the representation in the senate
shall never exceed one member for
every 5000 inhabitants, and in the
house of representatives one member
for every two thousand inhabitants.
The representation in both houses
shall be apportioned equally through
out the different sections of the state,
in proportion to the population there
of, exclusive of Indians not taxable
under the provisions of law"
The last legislative apportionment
was made in 1897, over fifteen years
ago, and it is a matter of common
knowledge that representation in our
legislature today is grossly unequal
under the constitutional provisions
just quoted.
In the last campaign all political
parties in their platforms distinctly
pledged the people a legislative reap
portionment as required by the con-
stitution. You were unable to pass
a legislative reapportionment at the
last session, but in this special ses-
sion, with but few subjects pressing
for your consideration, failure to pass
a legislative reapportionment in &C.
cordance with the constitution would
be a deliberate defiance of the right
Of the people to govern themselves.
To deny the people equal representa-
ton in the lawmaking branch of their
government is to strike down the
fundamental principle of popular gov
eminent by subjccting the majority to
the rule of the minority.
| earnestly recommend the early
passage of a legislative reapportion-
ment according to the constitution.
Direct Election of United States SEN
ators.
The legislature of Minnesota has
repeatedly memorialized the congress
to provide for the direct election of
United States senator's, and congress
has at last proposed such an amend
ment for your consideration and rec
ommend it's immediate ratification.
Federal Income Tax.
The last legislature failed to ratify
the proposed amendment to the Unit
ed States constitution providing for a
federal income tax, and l herewith
again transmit this proposed amend
ment for your consideration and rec
ommend its ratification.
Congressional Reapportionment.
Since your adjournment congress
has assigned ten members of the ma
tional house of representatives to the
state of Minnesota, instead of nine,
as at present. This necessitates the
redistricting Of the state into ten con-
gressional districts, and there is no
valid reason why this session should
not provide for such congressional re-
apportionment.