The Ocala evening star., 1922-11-03
ALBERT W. GILCHRIST
ON THE AMENDMENT

Editor Star: In relation to the |
charges Of tyranny and injustice"
to South Florida as regards the pro-
posed constitutional amendment on
apportionment, the first thing to do |
is to define South Florida. The north
boundary of Marion and Levy coun-
ties has heretofore been taken as the
north boundary of South Florida. The
of the line takes in Dixie
and Flagler counties. Only a small
part of Putnam being south of the
line, Putnam county is placed in
North Florida The federal census of
1920 places the population of Florida
at 968,470. Guessing the population
OF Dixie county at 1000, the popula-
ton of North Florida is 516,034, and
under the proposed apportionment it
would have 81 representatives, one
for each 9553 population; South Flor
ida has 452,436 population and would
have 46 representatives, one for each
1886 population.
Lee county having nominated a
representative on a county division
platform, will be divided in 1923, CIV
ing South Florida At representatives,
one to 1926, as against one to 9553 in
North Florida.
No tyranny 'or Injustice" in that.
AS to the senate: Take the counties
which in all justice should have a sep
arate senator-Escambia, Jackson,
Gadsden, Suwanee, Duval and Alach-
ua, seven in North Florida; and Mar
ion, Volusia, Hillsborough, Pinellas,
Polk, Palm Beach, Dade, Monroe,
eight in South Florida. This list in
cludes all the counties having pop
ulation of over $4,000. The constitu-
tion provides "When any senatorial
district is composed of two or more
counties, the counties of which such
district consists shall not be entirely
separated by any county belonging to
any other district" Nassau county in
North Florida, population 11,240, is
separated from every other county
except Duval, which has a population
of 113,54O, by Georgia. Nassau will
have a senator. The population of
these eight North Florida districts is
280,869, and of these eight South
Florida districts 2S3,4s2. There is
not much tyranny" or "injustice"
here. The total population of these
sixteen senatorial districts is 564,351.
The population remaining is 404,112.
The average population of the re-
naming twenty-five districts is 49,
369. The following tentatively
ed senatorial districts for South
Florida seems just: Levy, population
1921, and Citrus, 1920; Marion, 3d.
96s; Volusia, 23,374; Lake, 12,744, and
Sumter, 1851; fernando, 4548, and
Pasco, 1902; Orange, 1880; Brevard,
8505, and Seminole, 10,O86; Pinellas,
,265; Hillsborough, 98,257; Polk,
1861; Osceola, 7194; Okeechobee,
2132, and St. Lucie, 1886; Palm Beach,
1864; Highlands, Hardee and De-
Soto about 10000; Manatee and Sara
sofa, 17,712; Glades, about 100; Lee,
9540, and Broward, 5135; Dade, 49,
753; Monroe, 19, 9,550-seventeen South
Florida senatorial districts, with Dix
lie and Flagler in two North Florida
districts. The senate will be increas-
ed from 80 to 38 members. South
Florida will gain five or six of these
new senatorial districts. South Flor
ida now has eleven senatorial dis
ltricts.
| There are 81 counties, seven Great
ed in 1921, six in South Florida and
one in North Florida. If this amend
ment is voted down the next year for
apportionment in 1927, when at the
end of the legislative session there
will be over 68 counties, with at least
= one representative to each county.
The number of Representatives should
then be reduced to 68-an- impossi-
bility. Yet the chamber of commerce
of progressive and intelligent South
Florida county has solemnly declared,
with but one dissenting voice, that ga
fair and equitable reapportionment
of the legislature could and should be
secured for the people of Florida un-
der the existing provisions of the con-
stitution" in 1927.
Some advocate one senator for each
county. Georgia has 619 more square
miles than Florida and about three
times the population. Georgia now
has 160 counties, its legislature Great
ing several more at each annual ses-
sion. 1t will soon have over IT'S coun-
ties. Florida will eventually have It's
or more counties. Just think of us
Florida state senators, with only sc
III the United States Senate. Georgia
now has 81 senators. None of its
senatorial districts have less than
three counties.
| Under the proposed amendment, il
the legislature fails to make an ap-
lportionment it is the duty of the gov.
ernor to call an extra session, throw
ing the odium of the cost of the ses.
sion on the recalcitrant members. Be
sides, as the number of representa-
tives is unlimited, there is not the
motive for refusing to make the ap-
portionment