Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1965 University Daily Kansan
cause later pub- had dis-
Page 5
Redistricting Plan Nearly Approved
TOPEKA, — (UPI)— Rep. Jess Taylor's Congressional Redistricting bill bearly squeezed through his hand-picked apportionment committee 9-7, but the measure faces an inevitable court fight.
Under the measure, district populations would be 453,192 in the first; 425,122 in the second; 417,200 in the third; 455,579 in the fourth and 429,440 in the fifth.
Only two other counties would be changed under the Taylor bill. Dickinson County would be moved from the fifth to the second district and Geary would be moved from the second to the fifth.
Wyandotte County would be split as in the present redistricting law. The county would be divided between Kansas City and Shawnee.
TAYLOR'S measure has a population spread of more than 38,000 between the third and fourth districts.
The Republican representative from Tribune was successful in having a substitute motion tabled that would allow the bill to be introduced, but referred back to committee. That motion lost 6-4.
No action was taken on two Democrat bills already introduced in the House.
Both measures contained populations differentials of less than 1 per cent. Neither measure would split any of the counties.
Even Taylor's staunch supporters wilted under a promise from Rep. Thomas Van Cleave, D-Kansas City, that he would initiate a suit if any piece of legislation were approved that contained a population differential of more than 1 per cent.
The motion for a substitute measure to vote the bill out without recommending passage was made by Rep. Ambrose Dempsey, D-Leavenworth.
REP. ROBERT FINNEY, R-Humboldt, re-aligned his position and said he would like to study the
measure further. He asked that action on the bill be postponed.
Rep. Kenith Howard, R-Johnson, said he also would like to look it over.
But Taylor pressed for a vote and added: "It's bad today and it'll be worse tomorrow."
Appearing before the committee was Dr. Kenneth Beasley of the Department of Research who authored both maps from which the Democrats arrived at their redistricting bills.
When he called for a vote on whether the bill should be introduced with a report from the committee that it be approved, only four Representatives held up their hands.
When others hesitated, Taylor said "are you going to vote or not . . . if you are stick up your hands."
"IT SEEMS ONLY common sense."
Finney said. "Most people don't even know who their Representatives are now."
Taylor said his proposal was a plan that would be "greatly accepted in the house . and I think the senate will buy it also."
He said the legislators should do as good a job as possible according to population.
Finney argued there should be as few changes as possible in redistricting.
"I agree that the population spread is not as good as yours," Taylor said to Van Cleave. "But we've got to get something that the legislature will buy."
Van Cleave said the court "looks with a jaundice eye on the deviations."
He said the measure "moves as few people as possible."
VAN CLEAVE said the measure would give an "open invitation to the federal courts to redistrict" the state themselves. "The court will not allow more than 1 per cent population differential."
PAR-DUPLICATE BRIDGE TOURNAMENT
THURSDAY FEB.11
Lorenzo J. DeKaw Says:
KANSAS UNION JAYHAWK ROOM
Must See
Blankety Blankety Blank;.. And Besides That, You
MOTHER COURAGE Feb.10-13 8:20 p.m.
starring
Yugoslavia's Famous Acting Team Mladja and Branka Veselinovic
University Theatre, Murphy Hall Students free with certificate of registration
Also Coming Soon Broadway's Delightful Musical Comedy
LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE
A wonderful marriage of Music and Laughter in Kansas University's Premiere of Little Mary Sunshine assures you of a great evening's entertainment.
Experimental Theatre, Murphy Hall Feb. 18-20, 23-27 8:20 p.m. Students - 75c with certificate of registration
Coming Soon:
Johnny MoonBeam
Six Characters in Search of An Author
Spoon River
Marriage of Figaro