The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-29
ANOTHER VIEW OF
THE AMENDMENT
Tampa Times(


Mr.. Frederick Van Roy, nominee for
representative from Citrus county,
has been looking into the reapportion-
ment proposition, and has given to the
press the clearest and most compre-
h2nsive exposition of the matter that
we have yet seen. 1t was published
in full in the Times of Wednesday,
and should be read and considered by
every citizen of Florida who favors a
just and fair representation of every
section in the legislature. The people
of South Florida want and are asking
no more than they are justly entitled
to. They seek no unfair advantage,
but if the state is to maintain its
present solidarity. which every good
citizen must desire, then a reappor-
tionment must be made which will
guarantee to every citizen and section
equal rights with every other in the
making of the laws and the placing
of the burdens and privileges.
Mr.. Van Roy shows conclusively in
his analysis that the proposed amend
ment will not better things, but will
really leave US in worse condition
than ever, and will tie our hands for
the next ten years. He takes the
scheme up in detail. goes through ev-
cry county in the state, and shows
how the amendment, if adopted, will
ovid Tho rronnTa1
suit.
| For convenience he makes the di-
visions of the state, western, northern,
northeastern, which would properly
be counted in North or West Florida
in case the state should be divided;
and the central and southern, which
would be known as South Florida.
Then he makes careful analysis of
every county in the state, showing its
exact status under the present ap-
portionment, and what it will be if the
amendment should be adopted. The
western counties, that is, the nine
counties west of the Apalachicola
river, now have twelve representa-
tives. Under the new apportionment
they would have eighteen, gain of
so per cent. The northern counties
would neither gain nor lose, remain
ing the same, the gain of one in Dixie
county being offset by the loss of one
lin Taylor The northeastern counties,
which includes Duval. make a net
gain of two. or 10 per cent, counted in
lper centages. The central counties,
fifteen in number, will gain four men,
bers, and the southern fourteen coun-
ties will also gain four, making the
met gain eight, the same as the north
Iern counties. That looks fair, but is
lit? The western and northern coun-
ties will have ffty-six representatives
in the house. while the central and
southern counties will have but forty
five. The small counties will be at a
greater disadvantage than they are
now. At present they have one men,
Der in eighty-four, the present men,
bership of the house. The new appor-
tionment will increase this number to
100, and the small counties will have
but one member in 100. 1t would
seem to be plainly their interest to OPP
pose the amendment.
How will it be with the senate? The
present constitution says the member
ship shall be thirty-two, but the max
ing of new counties will increase the
number to thirty-eight. How viii
they be apportioned? Judging from
the treatment which has been accord
ed US in the past, it is fair to presume
that the western and northern coun-
ties will see that their present pre-
Iponderance is maintained. There is
no power in the amendment to enforce
a fair apportionment, nor indeed any
at all. The governor may call special
sessions until he is tired, but if the
Legislature refuses to act what can he
do, even if his backbone is of the
Cleveland pattern?
i The only conclusion possible is that
the proposed amendment is a sham
and a fraud and will not do what is
claimed for it. 1t should be defeated
by a decisive vote. and we believe it
will be.