Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1911 — REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN [ARTICLE]

REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN

Indiana To Lose One Congressman If Committee Report Is Adopted. The reapportionment of the state into twelve congressional districts, instead of thirteen, as at present, was the subject of the study of the congressional apportionment committee of the senate last night. The result was that the committee approved a map, subject to changes suggested by Governor Marshall and other Democrats who will be con- ’ suited. Senator W. B. Carleton, of Evansville, chairman of the committee, says the first attention was put on the map for twelve districts, as Congressman Boehne, who was recently in Indianapolis, believed congress would finally provide for twelve congressmen from Indiana instead of thirteen. It was estimated by the committee that each of the twelve districts should be so apportioned that it would contain about 225,000 inhabitants. According to the plan, Marion county, which now comprises the Seventh district, will be divided, the part containing Indi anapolis and the townships in the east half, comprising one district, and the townships of Washington, Pike, Wayne, Decatur and Perry comprising a part of another district. These west townships are planned as- a part of a district to be composed of Hendricks. Putnam, Boone, Hamilton, Tipton, Howard and Clinton counties.

On account of the rapid increase of population in the northern part of the state, the districts there will be smaller than at pi esent and in the southern part of the state they wll be larger. If the present plan is adopted, the First district will be same as at present, with Dubois and Perry counties added. This would put Congressman Cox, of Dubois county, in the First instead of the Third District. It has been suggested that should Congressman Boeline become a candidate for Governor. Congressman Cox would be a can-; didate for re-election to congress' from the First district. Other changes proposed are as follows: The Second district would be the same as at present,l with Brown county added. The Third district would be com-! posed of Crawford, Harrison, i Floyd, Clark, Washington,] Orange, Scott, Jefferson, Jack-; son, Jennings, Bartholomew and Decatur counties. The Fifth dis-; trict would lose Putnam, Hendricks and Morgan counties. Another district woulcj be of Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley, Franklin, Union, "Wayne, Fayette, Henry, Rush, Shelby and ; Johnson counties. Hancock, Madison, Delaware, Randolph. Blackford, Jay and Adams would comprise another district. A district group would be Wells. Hunti rigton, Grant, Wabash, Miami, Cass, Carroll and Pulaski counties. What is nowknown as the Twelfth district would be the same as at present, with Kqsciusko county added. Elkhart, St. Joseph, ' Laporte. Starke, Marshall and Fulton counties would form a district.' The Tenth district would be the same aS at present, except Laporte county would be lost. Senator Carleton says he believes the. reapportionment planned as stated would make all of the congressional districts nominally Democratic except the Tenth district. No way could be found to reapportion the Tenth district so as to rpake..it Democratic. Senator Carleton believes congress will take action on the apportionment question before the close of the session of the In diana legislature. A joint meeting of the congressional apportionment committees of the seriate and the house is expected to be called for Wednesday night. Romus FStuart, assistant secretary of the senate/ has assisted the senate committee in suggesting the reapportionment and in preparing the map. Senator Grube, chairman of the] legislative apportidnment com-] mittjee of the senate, will call a meeting of his committee for toLx _ •