The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-24

81. with five absent. Two Nom
partisans voted against il on the
roll call. The bill went on the
calendar for final action by the
House.
The House of Representatives was
put in uproar for brief time just
before noon today when that body
considered H. B. 27s, the alleged
"gerrymander" bill, in committee of
the whole. Charges were made
from the Independents that they
were counted out" in the division
over the bill and angry replies were
hurled.
When the House voted on the bill,
which would reduce the number Of
Senators and members Of the House
of Representatives, providing an en-
tlrely new method of apportioning
members, Rep. VIM. Hartl, chairman
OF the committee on the whole, and
the desk force, announced 81 repre-
sentatives stood up to recommend
passage Of the bill and so stood up
against passage.
Rep. Twichell, Independent, de-
clared the announcement was incor-
rect, and that the Independents had
majority against the bill.
Someone. counts differently than
II he declared. Il counted seven
more against the bill than for it. /
request that the chairman ask to
members to stand up again and hc
counted
again Rep. Hempel. Nonpartisan,
declared the vote was counted and
announced and could not be counted
over again.
Insult, He Says
Speaker B. Larkin, who was in q
seat on the floor, declared that lit
Is an insult to say that you have
been counted out. I've known Billy
Hartl all my life and he never I'D .
wrong thing"
But can't someone make an honest
Iaistake?" countered Rep. Watt
STAND up again and count over"
urged Twicheli. "Then we'll ace il
there is mistake"
The recount was not ordered.
ut is apparent to me-" said Twi-'
cheN, that some Nonpartisans voted
against this measure on division
that they think they can force in
line if it goes to roll call. That's
why you don't want to count over
|again."
The House proceeded to move ou:
of committee of the whole and the
report was divided as to the appor-
Itionment bill. Leaguers sought to
postpone action until afternoon. be-
cause some members were absent.
A call of the House was then moved,
and call was sent to several Non
partisans, absent downtown at the
Highway investigation or other pla-
ces, in order to rally votes to put the
measure over. There was brief de-
bate on it when it came up in COM
mittee of the whole.
I'VE had bill in two years ago
to change one or two districts and it
was charged it was pretty raw" said
Rep. Twichell, Independent leader.
This looks to me like pretty raw
bill. This bill leaves the Independ-
ents all told l2 Senators out of 49.
1t is an attempt to legislate a party
out Of office"
Says 1t Is Fair
Rep. Roberts, Nonpartisan, who in
trodueed the measure, said it was
worked out on a population basis.
and if it would legislate a party out
of office it should be, since it was
on fair basis.
"This, l believe, is. a just BILL" he
said. There is inequality of repre-
scntation between the eastern part
OF the state and western part" II
might suggest that it would be bet
ter for the Independents to vote for
the measure here than to have it go
|ibefore the people as an issue in the
next election"
Rep. Rulon, Independent, Stuts-
man county, said. he figured out un-
der the bill that it gave Independents
one Senator for $4,000 population
and Nonpartisans one for $4,000, and
that it was not justly based on pop
ulation.
Speaker B. c. Larkin read the ap-
portionment, stating the basis was
one Senator for 10000 population or
major fraction and one representa-
tive for each 10000 population or
major fraction.
81 figure that every man ought to
be willing to reapportion this on q
just basis even though some Of us
might have to stay at home" he
Isaid.
! when you look over the districts
provided it must be apparent that
there is politics in this BILL" said
Rep. Twichell. "Where the Inds-
lpendents are in control they are r.
lquired 1000 more p6pnlation Tor q
fSenator than the MenpAttisaNs. Il