The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-15
FIGHT ATTEMPT
TOREAPPORTION
STATE COUNTIES
Rural Legislators Again to
Oppose Bill Prepared
for House.

Marion County probably would
gain one Representative and half
Senator" if the legislative reappor-
tionment bill to be introduced in
the House Of Representatives is en-
acted.
Introduction of the bill will mean
a resumption Of the old battle be-
tween the rural and suburban COM
munities. Drafting Of the bill is in
the hands Of Rep. Martin Downey
ID, Hammond. and other men,
bers Of the Lake County delegation.
They are carrying on the work Of
former Rep. CHM EllysOn, who was
a staunch advocate Of legislative re-
apportonment because he felt that
under the present representation,
the rural districts are "chiseling"
the larger counties.
There has been no legislative re-
appOTuOnment since 1921, although
the Indiana Constitution is clear
on the point. 1t specifically pro-
vides that apportiOnment of the rep
resentative and senatorial dis
tricts shall be strictly on the basis
OF an enumeration Of male voters
and that such an enumeration shall
be made every six years.
The Indiana Constitution fixes
"a q c.
the number of Representatives at
100. so any GAINS the urban COM
munities would make under a re-
apportionment would be at the ex-
pense of the rural districts.
Rural Districts Hostile
Naturally, the rural districts do
not care for this, so their Repre-
sentatives have been abrogating the
Constitution for years by sheer
force Of numbers.
Rep DOWney has not yet drawn
up his bill, but, if the bill intro
duced two years ago by Rep. Ely
son is used as a model, Lake and
St. Joseph Counties would be the
largest gamers in any shift in rep
resentatiOn.
Lake County now has five Repre-
sentatives and a Joint Representative.
st. Joseph mas three Representatives
and would have been increased to
five under the Ellyson bill which
failed. Marion County'S eleven Rep
'Tesentatives and Joint Representa-
tive would have been increased one.
Allen County's three and a half
would have been increased to four
and a half.
Gains Would Be Small
Actually. the gains for the urban
districts would be comparatively
small under any reapportionment
legislation, but Representatives from
the rural districts are expected to
fight any such move vigorously.
Two years ago at a Democratic
caucus of the House. the Repre-
sentatives from the rural districts
figUlratively sat back on their
launches and defied the members
from the urban districts to do any
thing about eappOrtionment.
AS a result the Ellyson bill, in
which many other urban district
Representatives joined, was defeated.
So was a House Joint Resolution
setting superintendent forward to
1899
Old Threat Is Recalled
Even if the rural district Repre-
sentatives decide to pay any at
tention TO the Constitution and ac-
Cede to a demand for reapportion-
ment, the changes will be slight as
noted above.
There was a great deal of talk,
perhaps meaningless, in the session
two years AGO. to the effect that a
warning would be given to the ad-
miniStratiOn TO lend its support TO
reappOrtiOnment.
1t was said that the representa-
tiveS and Senators from such pOpu-
lous counties as Marion. Lake. Vigo,
Allen. St. Joseph. Vanderburgh,
Delaware, Madison and others might
JOIN together in blocking pet ad
ministration measures unless they
were given support on reapportion-
ment.
Nothing along this line has been
said in the present session, how
ever.