The Portland daily press., 1869-11-26
The Effect of the Census OF 1917 upon inc
National House.

-A1readv several members of Congress have
caused it to be proclaimed that they will in
tf0duce important measures at the next ses-
sion of that body. 1t is reported, too, that
Gen. Butler will actually begin the long defer
red battle between himself and his enemy.
Sehenck, of-the Ways and Means Committee.
and that he with certain of his familiars will
introduce bills to abolish sinecures and put an
ehd 10 aosenteeism at the national capital or
course the funding of the debt, the resumption
Oh specie payments, the Cuban question ana
The Alabama claims will receive due attention.
These questions, with such as may incidental
ly arise, will make the session sufficiently live
ly, albeit the stimulus of an obstinate EXecu-
tive to which the legislative branch of our
government has lately been accustomed will
be wanting. It would not be surprising if
considerable interest should be excited. both
an Congress and throughout the country, by
the bill which it is reported will be introduc-
ed by Mr. Latin, of New York, for the pur-
pose OF. changing the numerical basis of rep
resentation. This will be necessary on ac-
count of the increase of population which
will be made evident by the census of 1870.
If the basis were not changed the number of
representatives would be very much larger
than at present after 1871. But the constitu-
fon gives Congress power to readjust the rep
resentation Of the States after each census in
such manner as seems most advisable. Prac.
tically, while the ratio of representation has
been increased at the close of each decennial
period with one exception, the number of
Representatives has been uniformly increased
IN consequence of the rapid increase of pop
ulation. But this gain has redounded mostly
to the benefit of the growing States of the
South, while Eastern States have lost. Thus
Maine lost one Representative by the last ap-
portionment and will perhaps lose another by
that BPsed upon the census of 1870, though at
the same time the House of Representatives
receives an addition to its members.
The consideration of the question will no
doubt give rise to the same controversies that
marked the incorporation of the basis of
$4,000 into the constitution as a provisional
measure until the first census could be taken.
This gave House Of only sixty-fve mem
bers. 1t was objected that this was too small
House, because it would naturally lead TO
throwing the legislative power into the hands
of few aristocrats, that these few would
necessarily be unable to acquaint themselves
Win The interests of so large body of con-
stituents, and that Congress at subsequent
periods, when the population had very much
increased, would neglect or refuse to provide
for proper increase of Representatives. All
these objections were satisfactorily answered
at the time and subsequent events have ;ust-
fled the action Of the majority of the consti-
tutional convention. But the question of the
desirabilty of large or small House is one
that will constantly recur. 1t is perhaps more
natural to expect large States to favor large
House because in that body they obtain the
preponderence over the smaller States that
they lose in the Senate. The small States.
for the same reason, might be expected to IA
vor small House; but other considerations
than State jealousy rule in the matter. and
we may expect from the next apportionment
House that will be neither larger nor small
er than is justified by the best modern ideas
OF the proper numerical strength of legisla-
tive body