New-York tribune., 1922-11-10
Smiths Plans
Await Parley
With Leaders
Those Close to Governors
Elect See Transit Fight
in Immediate Prospect,
However, II Is Declared
heapportionment Sought
Vigorous Drive to Put His
Home Rule Program Into
Effect 70 Start at Once

though he has refrained from ex-
pressing himself directly those who
have talked with Governor-elect Alfred
+. Smith regarding his program when
ne takes Office have gained the impres-
sion that he Is fixed in his announced
intention to carry ou. his party's
home rule pledges, particularly as they
touch on traction and the Port Au-
thority.
The Governor-elect intends to dis
cuss matters with the leaders and
members Of the new Legislature before
definitely formulating his plans. The
Democratic leaders believe the next
Legislature, with Democratic control
In the Senate and e small Republican
majority in the Assembly, will be
amenable to the Governors wishes.
In connection with the home rule
program 1t Is understood the New York
City Democrats in the Legislature,
backed by the new Governor, will start
vigorous drive for reapportionment
Of Assembly districts throughout the
state in order to remedy what they con-
tend Is discrimination against the city
IN representation in that body. While
this would require an amendment to
the state constitution and could not be
accomplished during the coming admin
tstration, all the impetus that the Smith
regime can give to che project will be
exerted. This matter Of more equitable
representation in the lower house is
known to be one of the incoming Gov
crnor's hobbies.
Declare Representation Unfair
1t was pointed out that under pres
ent representation in the Assembly
many of the upstate counties with
only 10000 to 10000 population get
an Assemblyman, and Assembly dis
tricts in this city with a population
of nearly 100000 get the same repre-
sentation. Putnam County, for in
stance, with 11,0oo population, where
only A,400 persons voted in Tuesdays
election, has an Assemblyman, while in
in which Governor-elect Smith lives,
there are $4,000 citizens and only one
Assemblyman. Representation in the
Assembly, according to the New York
City Democrats, In order to give all a
voice in the enactment Of state laws,
should be based on the citizen popula-
ton, with the quota fixed at one As
semblyn,an for every $4,000 population.
1t was pointed out that Representa-
tives to Congress are elected according
TO population, including aliens, the
Congressional districts being appor-
toned according to the Federal census
In order to have fair representa-
tion, one Democratic leader said, the
apportionment should start at Mon
tauk Point and line be- drawn across
Long Island when $4,000 population
had been covered, and that should be
the LIST Assembly District Of the State
Of New York. In similar manner, the
Assembly districts should be appor-
toned on through New York City and
through the upstate counties. That
this method Of apportionment would
mean fixed control Of the Legislature
by the Democrats for all time was de-
MED by it's sponsors. At the same
time it is admitted that the present
apporticnment Of Assembly districts
np-state was established in order to
keep the control of the state in the
Legislature out of New York City.
Those close to the Governor elect de.
clare that he will lose no time in press
ing the Legislature for the repeal of
the present public service and transit
legislation snd the abolition of the
Transit Commission, which would mean
in this city that new subway construc-
tion and operation and power over pres
ent contracts with the traction COM
panies would be left wholly in the
hands of the Board Of Estimate. A new
Public Service Commission will be in
cluded in the program to deal with
statewide public utilities, with regu-