Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-22
Is 1t "Unfair and Absurd"
IL nmiSfnn In1lrnalA

The newspapers of the eastern part
of Maine have in a few instances,
discussed the subject of redistricting
of Maine for Senators and Repre-
sentatiVes.
The subject of representatives will
probably excite little controversy;
but the subject of Senators is a moot
topic. The issue is over the PROPOSE
ton to submit to the people bill to
amend the Constitution increasing
the membership of the State Senate
to 80 members and thereby save the
original conception of what State
Senate should be.
If the present number of State
Senators be retained at 81, and the
senators be districted to population,
Hancock and Somerset would each
lose a Senator and Cumberland and
Androscoggin would both gain one.
This seems simple but it is not so
simple as it sounds. Under this re-
districting Cumberland county would
have five Senators, York 3, Andro-
scoggin 3. These three counties could
hold up any proposed Constitutional
amendment that could be submitted
Under this seemingly simple redis-
| tricting the western part of the State
would greatly predominant over the
eastern and lay that section greatly
to disadvantage in any question of
localisms.
The redistricting of the State is
imperative at least every 10 years
under the constitution. The trainers
of the Constitution placed the num-
| Der of Senators at 81. We are not
concerned over the increase of the
Maine Senators by adding the eight
members to it and those opposed to
the suggestion do not seem con-
cerned, if it serve a useful purpose in
the preservation of the equanimity
! and peaceful operation of Maine 1t
is not well for any section of Maine
| to be restless under the sense of an
| injustice. And such feeling is likely
! to arise if the seat of power be placed
so exclusively in two counties such
as will be the case with over one
fourth of the Senate in Cumberland
and York. And if as some seem to
desire Androscoggin county be put
over into the First District, the total
of the three counties would be more
than one-third of the Senate-eriough
to stop any submission to Consti-
tuition amendment.
The fact is that many members of
the redistricting committee favor a
law that would give each county two
members of the Senate and one
extra to Cumberland, the largest
county making the Senate 33 mem
bers This does not mean committee
approval and certainly does not meet
approval to put five members into
Cumberland and leave the status as
indicated.
The United States Senate has two
members to a state, regardless of
population. 1t was so placed that
small state might have her SOW
ereignty respected, her needs advert
ed to; the rights of her humblest
citizen given the same show as any
in other sections of the country. 1t
does not seem that there is common
sense in determining the basis of
representation in both Senate and
House on the same basis. It was
never considered that the Senate
was a popular branch. The House is
made up on the basis of population,
the Senate should be made up on the
basis of county needs. the county
government; the varied uses of
shrievalties. IL the county of Cum
berland has II or IS representatives