Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-12-02
Congressional AppOrfiOn.
~ Ments.

Congressional AppOrfiOn.
nlents.
A special reporter at Washington
telegraphs To Chicago morning
paper as follows:
"Tbe special Census Committee OF
the House met to-day, Messrs. Car
field, Wilkinson and HaIderman
being present. Nothing was done
further than to decide to begin work
again tomorrow. A bill providing
ways and means for taking the next
census with accompanying tables,
will be printed by the time Congress
meets. The Committee have decided
to recommend decrease in the ratio
Of representation, which will increase
the number Of Congressman and the
confusion of business. Gen. Garfield
will have charge Of the bills in the
House."
The ratio Of representation is now
one.to every III 600 people, according
to the census Of 1860. The present
general law Of Congress, upon the
subject Of representation, is based
upon different principle from that
which obtained up to its passage in
May, 1850. Up to that time the rule
---unguestionably the principle Of the
Constitution llerein-had prevailed,
that representation, regardless of the
number Of Representatives,, should
be based upon population; that every
so many people should be entitled to
a Representative. The act Of 1890
putin practice different principle
that the House Of Representatives
should contain just so many men,
ybers, without regard to the number
of people. This change in the rule,
as we have time and again insisted,
has worked against the interests OF
the West. During the growing era
of the East, the true rule, that Of the
Constitution, prevailed. Massachu.
sets used to have fourteen Represen-
tatives; Virginia used to have nine
teen; the other old States during all
their period Of considerable growth
welded political powerin proportion
to their population. Not 50 with the
Northwest. When her era Of great
progress began, the rule was changed;
and If her political power has in
creased it has been because Of her
marvellous and uBanticipatcd pros
pcrity.
The only way the West can secure
her Just political power in the House
of Representatives is by Il return to
the old rule or apportioninent. Thus
only will her political power keep
pace with her growth in population.
1T may not be necessary to have a
decrease in the present ratio Of rep
rescntation--wes should not, however,
in view Of Western interests, object
to decrease for the coming decade
but it ought to be fixed at some just
figure, and 50 remain, SO that the
House Of Representatives would grow,
so to say, with the country. The
great growth being in the West, we
shall be fools to object. The House
of Commons numbers more than six
hundred and fifty members. This is
three times as great as the number OF
our House Of Representatives and
there is no confusion of business"
either. There might be in our House
some confusion of tongucs-as there
would be were there but twenty
members, and several Buncombe
Counties in the. country-but the
business is done by Committees, in
any event, nineteen times out Of
twenty. Bt v5t.
We have little doubt that General
Garfield's Committee, will mature q
measure upon this subject of great
practical Importance, which will re-
ceive the cordial assent Of the candid
everywhere, and the very, hearty
support Of the people of the Wes'
universally. by reason Of so many
small States in the Ea~., with none
in the West, we are constantly de
prived of our just power in the Sen
ate. The sooner we secure 1t in thu
House, the better, and the only con
fusion worthy Of note that will ensut
will be confusion to the schemes o
Atlantic Slope political gamblers ant
slobbyists.-Ch Chicago Post.