Arizona republican., 1916-07-14
Two Proposed Legislative System Changes

Two Proposed Legislative System Changes
 Two-amendments to the constitution for the reorganization of the legislative system will be submit ted to the people November One of them proposes the unicameral system o socalistic origin and advocated long as four years ago by certain democratic papers at time when the party seemed to be irrevocably committed to radcasm. We not that the system has any advocates except among socialists persons of strong socalis tic tendency
 The uncameral system has been proposed at time another in various state legislatures, the lat est proposal being, as we believe in Wisconsin, but the bill promptly and indefinitely postponed.
 The system has not been tried anywhere in the United States though it is in in of the Cana dian provinces where it operates in conjunction with executive commission of seven members The sys- tenn discussed in the conference of governors at Denver but there, wherever body of representa- tive Americans meet there a preponderance of opinion that change the single house system would be to remove check upon bad unwise leg islation It frequently happens of course, that good legislation which has been passed in house has been defeated the other It more frequently hap pens though, that bad bills defeated. Anyhow it is better that good bill should fail than that bad should succeed.
 The other proposal for a change in legisla- ] with progress which has been made in many northern states. It would leave at the beginning the total bershp of each house it is but would reappor- the basis of the voting population instead of the arbitrary and unreasonable apportonment fixed by law. It would substitute for the diem of g. nua salary of s4O0 and would make the term of the legislator four years instead of two years Many oth- features proposed, all believe good but of only of them will speak at this time the proposal divide the counties into assembly dis tricts and to elect representative from each by segregated That practice generally prevails throughout the north
 The chief advantage of such system is found in the fact that the candidate from any district would be we'll known all the people who could for him. They would know of his capabilities and would have to guess them after having caught fleeting glimpse of him in campaign. Also many excellent might be animated by public spirit to stand for office if they only had to appeal to those who know them but who in would enter upon contest for office involving long campaign of a whole county
 Under the present system under the old con- vention system legislative candidates nominated represent pretty well the different parts of the county but hardly any candidates known to any considerable number of The voters support those whom they happen to know well regardless of party lines, but those whom they do not know, they for them only because they happen to be the party ticket Thus legislatures always made up of men who have been elected largely by the votes of people who know nothing about them. It is therefore wonder that revile state legis- latures
 It has been observed that candidate for any flee if he is at all worthy receives heavier vote in the neghborhood where he lives. There he always runs ahead of his ticket. Under legislative district ing system every successful would have head of his ticket and the legislature whole creation intelligent majority rather than aggregation of pigs in pokes" members elected by blind, partisan majorites.
 When this amendment first proposed. The Re publican realized the importance of it and made it the subject of correspondence with who have made study of such An outline of the proposed amendment was sent the Wisconsin Library Com mission. We have received in return from MT. c. B Lester of the Commission a general endorsement of the proposed change the district writes:
 think it is the consensus of opinion that the election of legislators from single member districts is decidedly plan. Of course, there should be the most careful guarding against gerrymandering in the appoonmen of these districts and they should be compact in form consisting of contiguous territory. and be nearly equal in population may be. You find discussion of the actual systems in vogue in Reinsch, American Legislatures and Legis 1atve Methods" in the chapter on legislative appor tionments Tn the northern and western states it is all most universal system
 It should be stated that the proposed amendment carefully guards against gerrymandering by requiring that legislative districts shall consist of contiguous territory and shall be compact they be formed