The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-05
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IdI1on. OF FLORIDA, relating TO the ap-
lportionment of members Of the Iegis-
latuRe. Without such an amendment
apolEionment is almost impossible.
Article VII Of the constitution Of the
! state Of Florida provides for an ap-
poIHtonment Of members of the legis-
Iafnre every ten years, the number Of
senators being limited to 80 and the
Number of representatives to SO. Each
county to have at least one representa-
tEves. AT present. there are 81 coun-
lies, % having 2 representatives each,
f4b representatives, 81 counties have
one representative each. There are now
| *. repg esentatives, this number to be
reduced to IS. Attorney General Blu
rord has recently published a proposed
fapport1onment, whereby counties,
Dade, Duval, Escambia. FIilIsborough
would secure, each, 3 representatives,
and counties, Alachua, DeSoto, Jack
son, Marion, Pinnellas and Polk, each,
/ 2 representatives. In area, Florida is
the second largest state east of the
Mississippi river, having only 7S9
square miles less than Georgia. Geor-
gla has 154 counties. Florida has 81
counties. During the legislative SEES
sion of 1921, bills will be introduced
providing for the division to DeSoto
county into counties, and for the
division of several other counties. In
less than 10 or u years, there will be
over 68 counties in Florida. If the
number of representatives is confined
to say that the counties then having
z or representatives would cease to
discuss the advisability and the JUS
tfce of an apportionment whereby they
would love all but eone representative
An amendment to the constitution is
imperative. l suggest the following,
joint resolution, proposing an amend
ment to section of article VII of the
constitution of the state of Florida, re-
lating to the number of members of the
senate and of the house of representa-
tives and to apportionment of the
same.
Be 1t Resolved, By the Legislature of
the State of Florida:
The following amendment to the
constitution of the state of Florida is
hereby agreed to and shall be submit /,
ted to the electors of the state at the !
general election to be held on the first !
Tuesday after the first Monday in No |
vember, A. D., 1922, for ratification or /
rejection. Section 8: The legislature |
that shall meet A. d, 1923, and in A. |
D., 1881, and those that shall meet |
every ten years thereafter, shall appor- |
ton the representation in the senate !
the whole number of senators not to /
exceed thirty eight members; and at
the same time shall apportion the rep
resentatiOn in the house of representa- |
tives. To each of the four counties |
having the largest population, as de-
termined by the preceding federal CEN
sus, there shall be apportioned three
representatives; to each of the eight
counties having the next largest poplf-
lation there shall be appOrtioned two :;
representatives; to each Of the remain
ing counties there shall be apportioned
one representative. No county shall /
have more than three representatives.
Every county shall have at least one
representative.
Section of article VII reads now
as follows: Section 8: The legislature
that shall meet A. D., 1887. and those
that shall meet every ten years there
after, shall apportion the representa-
ton in the senate the whole number
of senators not to exceed thirty two
members: and at the same time shall
also apportion the representation in
the house Of representatives the whole
number OF Representatives not to ex-
coed sixty-eight members. The repre-
sentation in the house of representa-
tives shall be apportiOned among the
several counties as nearly as possible
according to population; Provided.
60 CHI county shall have one representa-
two at large i'll the house of repre-
seatatives, and no county, shall have
mors than three representatives.
1t will he observed that the member ,
ship IS limited, on apportionment to 68 :
members in the house. The senate is
limited 70 80 members, it's present :
number. 1t will also be observed that =
the apprtiOnment is based on the <
state celsus. Should the state census
be preferred as a basis for apportion-
ment, tie proposed amendment could :.
be easir changed.
At thu general election, 1900. section
4 Of aticle VII was amended 80 as :.
to proide for the admission of new
counts at sessions of the legislature :
held iryears other than those in which y
apportonments were made. Amy new <
COUNT that may be created shall be
entitid to one member in the house :,
Of representatives in excess of the :
limit prescribed in section OF this :.
article until the apportionment follow >,
ing ext thereafter" -
tbs explains the reason for having -
now over 68 members in the house. no -
having been made since =,
lS9. -
p the proposed amendment, the
NUMBER of senators is increased from =.
32 to 50; in the house four counties ;
sail have representatives, coun- .,
ss, 2, all other counties. one each.
IBERT w. GILCHRIST, of Punta =,
Gorda, Florida. q
10