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University Daily Kansan
thursday, Feb. 20, 1964
Redistricting Battle May Go to House
WASHINGTON—(UPI)The Democrat-controlled House may enter the congressional redistricting battle despite indications that Republicans would have the most to gain from apportionment based strictly on population.
Texas congressmen, haunted by the possibility of having to run statewide campaigns, took the first steps yesterday. They got a go-ahead from House leaders to draft legislation that would give congressional blessing to the Supreme Court's "population only" ruling this week, but give state legislatures a last chance to draw up equitable districts.
As explained by Rep. Wright Patman, dean of the Texas delegation, the proposed measure would, in effect, delay the Supreme Court edict until the 1966 congressional elections.
The House Judiciary Committee set hearings on redistricting proposals starting March 18. Chairman Emanuel Celler, D-N.Y., has been advocating for years that Congress set firm standards for legislatures to follow in drawing congressional districts. He has had no success in his effort, but the new high court decision could make a big difference.
HOUSE MEMBERS who previously opposed congressional action on redistricting because it was a function of state legislatures, now may embrace it as an alternative to court-drawn congressional districts or the prospect of all congressmen running at large.
Of course, congressional action now may be too late in states where taxpayer suits already are in progress, but it might help stem a tide of litigation that seems sure to follow the Supreme Court's Georgia decision.
Another reason redistricting legislation has made no headway is the conflicting interests involved. While one member with a district of nearly 1 million population might be all for action by someone to lighten his load, several of his colleagues with districts numbering 200,000 or less might be perfectly cozy.
A glance at U.S. population figures shows that rural areas could be expected to lose, suburban areas around cities to gain, and the cities themselves to be relatively unchanged by strict population redistricting.
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Student Court Bends But Won't Wobble
By Susan Flood
If an art student appeals a parking ticket on the grounds that art students must often transport large paintings that cannot be carried, can he avoid penalty?
If your six-year-old son plays with your watch and probably is responsible for setting it an hour ahead, are you guilty of parking in a restricted zone before the restriction time elapses?
These are only two of the many parking ticket appeals that the Student Court has heard while in session. When and where to make exceptions is a difficult decision to make in many cases.
Sometimes the appeals are decided by technicalities. This was the case of the art student, whose ticket was void on the face because the officer had failed to note the location where the offense occurred.
Sometimes the appeal is overruled, primarily on the ground that the law cannot be stretched too far in regard to exceptions. The justices felt that the problem of the watch which was an hour ahead was a situation which could lead to too lenient exceptions being made in future cases.
Another point argued in this case was the fact that the ticket was given during a vacation period. The prosecuting attorney cited the parking regulations which do not exempt vacations from the restrictions and this defense was thus not a valid reason.
The scope of the student court is determined in part by the ASC resolution which created it and includes power to judge appeals from parking tickets and any disputes arising between student organizations.
"We can handle almost anything the students bring before us," explained Tom Thompson, Atchison third-year law student and chief justice of the student court.
"Any judgment of the court can first be appealed to a court in bank, which is all seven justices sitting. The final authority, however, is the ASC disciplinary board," Thompson said.
The other six law student justices appointed by the student bar association and the law school faculty are:
Robert G. Walter, Lawrence, second-year; John M. Reiff, Wichita, third-year; Thomas C. Clark, Bonner Springs, third-year; William R. Howard, Lawrence, third-year; Robert McDowell, Lawrence, second-year, and Karen I. Steward, Hutchinson, second-year student.
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