Atlanta Daily World

REAPPORTIONMENT ANALYSIS
Two Negro Senators Possible
If Ga. Adopts
"Smalley"
Plan

A three-judge federal court ruling on the County Unit System swept into oblivion an antiquated system of politics in this state. When the Georgia Legislature convenes at the state capitol to grapple with the problem of reapportionment this week, they may very well set into play a plan for Fulton County Negro representation in the State Senate for the first time in Georgia's recent history.

According to the Minority Report of the Reapportionment Study Committee, a plan will be introduced to the legislature to split Georgia's counties into 54 senatorial districts under the "Smalley Plan" with each senatorial district representing approximately 75,000 citizens.

Under the plan, entire counties small in population may be combined to form senatorial districts. Each county in a senatorial district composed of more than one county must adjoin at least one other county in the same senatorial district.

There may be more than one senatorial district within a county. Such districts, as nearly as practicable shall contain approximately the same population according to the most recent federal decennial census.

FULTON COUNTY

The 1960 census report, under which the "Smalley Plan" would be inaugurated if accepted by the legislators, indicates that Fulton County has a total population of 556,326. This population total would allow Fulton County seven senators with the city divided into seven senatorial districts.

The significance of the new senatorial districting plan lies in the fact, that, of the 556,326 Fulton County population total, approximately one-third of this figure represents Negro population concentrated in a few particular areas of the city.

POPULATION BY
CENSUS TRACTS

The Fulton County area is "tracted;" that is, it is divided, for statistical purposes, into a number of small areas called "census tracts."

Among other things, the census tracts show how many white and non-white citizens are located in every section of Fulton County.

There are 179 census tracts in Fulton County.

A sampling of 30 census tracts grouped closely together and comprising approximately 90 per cent Negro population indicated a total of 154,658 non-white residents.

It is highly conceivable that at least two Negro senators could be elected from these locations if the unfair political weapon of gerrymandering is not put into play.

The decision of the U. S. District Court in civil action spells out clearly what changes are necessary in the reapportionment of the Georgia Legislature in order to remove the discrimination which the court found exists, and also when these changes must be completed and effective.

To meet the requirements of the court, the Georgia General Assembly must pass and put into effect their plan before January 1, 1963.

The General Assembly can thus remove any cause for the court to move in and do themselves the reapportionment job which they say the 14th Amendment requires, which if they did would further embarrass and divide the people of Georgia.