The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-10-13
REINFORCEMENT

No man is better posted on Florida
affairs than Herbert Felkel, for a
number of years the representative of
several of the leading papers of the
state at Tallahassee during legisla-
tive sessions, and now editor of the
st. Augustine Evening Record. The
following article by him on the re-
apportionment amendment is accur-
ate and free from prejudice:
When the last constitution of Flor
ida was adopted it provided the leg
islature should reapportion the State
as to Legislative representation every
ten years, basing the reapportionment
on the population increases or de-
creases of the various sections. De-
cade after decade passed and no re-
apportionment was made, though the
members of the two law making bod
les put their hands on the Bible at
the beginning of each session and
swore to uphold the Constitution.
South Florida grew. but North
Florida did not grow in proportion;
and the over represented counties
representatives would not stand for
reapportionment, although none of
their constituents know or cared much
about the proposition. The members
were afraid to go home with the re-
port that the number of representa-
tives from their respective counties
had been cut down. In fairness to
them, however, let it be stated that
many of the propositions for reappor-
| tionment were not equitable or prac-
tical. Moreover, some of the solons
tooke the position that the legislative
sessions falling between the ten-year
periods were not obligated to reap
portionment.
There were bitter fights practically
every session on the issue; and this
very matter Of reapportionment is
what has led to agitation for state
division and capital removal because
the growing and populous and wealthy
portions of the state were under-rep-
resented and powerless to correct the
existing unfairness.
Finally after much deliberation in
committee rooms and on the floors
of the House and Senate, constitu-
tional amendment providing for re,
apportionment was submitted by the
1921 Legislature to be voted upon by
the people in November 1922, al
which time it will be on the ballot fol
approval or rejection. The joint reso
luton submitting the amendment wa:
passed by the required three fifth!
majority of each house.
The proposed amendment provide:
that counties with 100000 population
and up shall have four representa-
tives; counties having between 10000
and 100000 population, three repre-
sentatives; counties containing be
tween 10000 and 10000 people, tw,
representatives; and all counties un
der 10000 population, one representa-
tive. The amendment provides tina
the figures of the next proceeding U
S. census shall be used as authority
The measure also provides that tn
reapportionment shall be continuou
as time goes on. In other words
the reapportionment must occur afte
each decennial federal census. eve
if an extra session has to be called.
At the first reapportionment Sout
Florida will obtain more members i
the Legislature than all other section
of the State combined, and then a
the years come and go, as new coun
ties are created, as population ir
1 creases, representation Throughout
the state will become nearer balance
U and "reapportionment with all of it
bitterness of feeling will become
thing of the shady past-the issu
will die', as Senator-elect W. v
Phillips of Columbia county has C
aptly said.
This condition will be made pos
sible through the equitable basis
worked out and submitted by the 1872
session of the Legislature. And tn
basis looking towards a permaner
settlement of the much-mooted ques
ton, was not guessed at by thos
! championing its passage but arrive
ell hn fy