Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-05
congress To
BE ASKED TO
REAPPORTION
Continued from page one)

| 4 z xxi. 8.
nslature did not pass a reapportion'
.ment measure, Congress would be ask
ed to step in and direct the new diyis
ion.
This morning Senator Coke wrote
letters to Chairman John F. Shafroth
of the senate committee on Pacific
Islands and Porto Rico. and to Chair
man w. c. Houston Of the house com
Iaittee on territories, setting forth the
facts and urging that congress take
action TO reapportion the membership
of the legislature on the new census
basis.
Since the 1916 census, legislative
mathematicians have figured out that
if the membership should be readjust.
ed, Oahu would gain three members
one senator and two representa-
tiyes. Maui, it is figured, would lose
one senator and one representative,
Kauai would lose one representative,
while the only change on the island
Of Hawaii would be a. shift OF one re-
preventative between East and West
Hawaii.
The effect of the reapportionment
would be to give Oahu a total of
seven votes in the senate against
eight from the outside districts, and
fourteen votes in the house against
sixteen from the outside districts.
Thus, by combining with one or two
in any other delegation. the Oahu del
egation could practically control mat
tiers.
Cahu's Complaint.
Oahu has complained for several
sessions that the combination of out
side islands put the home delegation,
representing by far the greatest num-
Der of interests, far in the minority
The outside island combinations de-
feaied reapportionment in each of. the
sessions since the taking of a new
census made reapportionment obliga-
tory under the organic act The fight
has been hard each time. In the last
session the senate passed reappor-
tionment bin. No. $50, after a close
vote, but it was slaughtered in q
house committee.
Both in the house and senate, Oahu
members protested. They declared
that the legislature should recognize
the binding obligation of the organic
act and reapportion the membership
under the explicit terms Of the provi-
sion. Always, however, outside COM
binatipns succeeded in beating Oahu.
The fight two years ago was long and
bitter and though the measure came
up late at the last session, IL was hot
while it was being considered.
MY stand has been for reapportion-
ment throughout, and the majority
that passed the bill in the senate
warned the legislature that If it were
not passed in the house, the matter
would be taken up to congress- said
Senator Coke this morning.
Organic Act Imperative.
THE organic act is imperative, and
furthermore, Oahu will continue to
get the worst of it in legislation until
the reapportionment is made.
1T is to be regretted that this ac-
ton must be taken, for it may be re-
garded as an evidence that this ter
rItory is not equal to self-government.
The fact is, of course. that the re-
apportionment would have been made
but for this combination Of outside
island delegations to keep their mem
bership from being cut down.
!, Senator Coke was busy this morn
ing debating statement of the situa-
ton to the chairman of the house and
senate committees. He said it would
go forward by the Sonoma this after
noon, and that he hoped the matter
would be taken up in Washington at
IN early date.