Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-05-10
THE APPORTIONMENT BILL.

mcnt.
THE APPORTIONMENT BILL.
The new apportionment bill was
discussed in the House of Representa-
tiyes during the whole day on the 2lst
uItimo. 1t was oos'dered in Com
mit.ee Of the Whole, Mr.. Allen of
Maine in the chair. From the report
of the proceedings which we annex,
we fear we are TO have the ratio ofrep-
resentaIion fixed at very small III n
Der, and as a matter of course. have
the number Of Repre- santatives greatly
increased. If the ratio of representa-
ton goes below 10000 Mississippi
will be entitled 20 fire Representatives.
If it is fixed at 10000, and no more
we shall have four members and a re-
siderum of $4,000.
Mr.. j. II. Mason of Md. proposed
10 the committee that the ratio oil repre-
sertlt;on should be reduced from 68,
900 as contemplated, to $4,000. He
gave his reasons, which were mainly
connected with the effects it would
have at home.
Mr.. Tillinghast Of II. Island, was
opposed to the number named, for the
reason that it would deprive his State
OF Representative.
Mr.. Thompson Of Indiana was in ia
vor ola large number, and named 100,
900, which was objected to. II e eff
feet would be to reduce the number Of
Representatives to l40, and this would
restore order in the House, AMI be
economical also.
Mr.. Bolts Of Va, reminded gentle
men that the question not to strike out
| $4,000 was equivalent to an adoption
of the number. The number Of 6S,
1000 was then striker out. Also, the
number reported by the apportion-
ment Committee, which was $4,000.
By general understanding the mem-
bers then reported their number to the
! Clerk, sub S,icntio. Some time was
consumed in this, and large number
of propositions were submitted, ran
ging from 10000 to $4,000.
Mr.. Underwood Of Ky, proposed
TO gill the blank in the Bill with 141,
, 900.
Mr.. Underwood spoke briefly Blu
= very much 10 the purpose. He salt
, that unless the quality of member
r were improved and the number redu
q ced, the destiner5 Of the country were
in a dow inward progress.
Mr.. Pope, colleague of MI. Tn
p derwood, was in favor of small "a
f ito, and thought that from the ne
cessity of the thing, if the House wer
large there would be n ore order ant
U less debts also; that the larger the bo
y dy, in his opinion would it be brough
o nearer the affections of the people.
: Mr.. Davis, of New York, favored
,r the larger representation, in order tina
Il the Mechanics and Farmers might b
n represented, and local interests wit
them.
IN Mr., Underwood made some furthe
&c remarks, the import ofwhich was tn;
y. of the number were lightly increase
n unon principle, the effect would b
rs that by and by we should have rel
resentation of2OOO members.-Ho
70 long would it take to count the ayt
/ and noes under such a system.
in Mr.. Wise continued the discussiC
r at considerable length. He was in t
vor of the largest ratio Of represent
. ton, to that effect.
lie Mr.. Sprigg, of Kentucky, follow'
II in favor of a small representation. II
ve speech amused the members by its no
m city and from the comments made up
no the remarks of members as TO the b
in influence of mere locality as seen
the effects Of small presentation.
tol Mr.. Sprigg having concluded, t
m committee called loudly 'for question
IS No member rose TO speak. The col
III mittee, by a strong vote, rejected Ia
IN 600, $4,000, 100000 and 102, 0O
M One hundred thousand was the ne
NJ number named and upon this \
Morgan of New York called for L
lers.
% A motion was here made that
- committee rise, and was lost, SO
81 SD.
The question returned upon 10'
.ve 600, and it was rejected-ayes 90
-, noes not counted.
,nr The committee then rejected 81
~, 600 $4,000 10000, $1,000, 500
H. rs, 1865, $4,000 and $4,000, viii
~ would give the House 200 member:
=: ~ ~, 900 and $1,000 were rejected;
H. ~ 20 $50 was voted upon by telIers a
Ho rejected, but 81 voting in the affiru
Ut tive; sc, 5000, $4,000 and 65,5
were rejected.
The vote was then about TO be
ken upon $4,000, when Mr.. Arn'
moved that the committee rise; the n
lad lion was lost-63,OO and 62,5
,s, were then rejected.
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