Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-09

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Colfax.... 1,424 3,45S
Cedar 1882 1877
Lincoln IL 1855
Saline......... 3,1O6- 7,718
York...........-- 6O4 1883
Total. 8O,e12
Taking this as q fair average Of
the increase Of the population of the
State, only two counties, Furnas
and Sherman being included that
had no settlement in 1870, we find
the ratio of increase is 2,S566, q little
over two and eight and one-half
tenths. Multiplying the total popu-
lation of the State in 1870, which
was according to the United States
census reports 10, 893, and we have
as the population to-day, 351 ,465.
As the proportion Of new counties Is
more than two in twenty-one Of the
whole number Of organized coun-
ties, we may with good reason ex-
pect this to be below the actual
figures that the returns will show.
But we have no doubt that we shall
be found with over $50, 900 inhAbi-
tants, giving us a sufficient popula-
ton to entitle us under the present
apportionment, to three members Of
Congress.
The full quota for three members
would be All, 900, a $4,000 is the
ratio to a member. But the new ap-
portionment law gives to Q frsc-
ton over one-half the ratio an addi-
tional member to each State. For
two members the proportion is,
therefore, anywhere between 2O5,-
500 and 254 1000; for three mem
bers, between 322,500 and All 200.
1t is, of course, n thing to have
the population; and another thing
to get the additional represention.
We have heretofore expressed our
doubt as to the prospect. The jeal-
ousy of the East Of the growing
power of the West in Congress In.
creases and intensifies with each
succeeding year, and the manner in
which the apportionment was ma
nipulated three years ago,b by which
some of the New England States
were arbitrarily given representa-
ton, additional to that they we're
entitled to by the census returns,
while no provision whatever was
made for the trans-MissOuri States
that were known to be increasing
from twenty-five to fifty per cent.
annually, sufficiently Indicates the
animus of Congress. The local fight
on the currency question will only
increase this hostility. and result
i'm new wrongs, unless all the West
and Southwest from the Allegha-
MES to the Pacific "a be induced
to concentrate its votes for mutual
protection. While we trust that
this will be done, We confess that
it is doubtful, as there is much jeal-
ousy between the Western States
divided by the Mississippi, and even
by the Missouri river and the Sierra
.Nevadas.
Yet in the face of these difficult
ties, Nebraska will be recreant to her
duty and unworthy of a position as
a sovereign State, if she does not
make a lively fightin behalf of her
rights. The greater the injustice
intended the more emphatic should
be our cutlery, and the more deter
mined the effort Of our Representa-
tives. From the present Congress,
it will perhaps be useless to expect
action, although there will be time
10 make our case out before the
session closes. But it will not take
very serious amount of opposition
at this late day to postpone the
matter, even If a working majority
can be had In our favor. Never
theless the sooner the issue Is
brought up the better, and We
strongly recommend that as soon as
he Secretary of State has the re-
.urns i'm his Office, an official abb
'tract of the same be forwarded to
,ur Congressional delegates, for
hem to use as a basis for q bill
Nebraska two additional
representatives in Congress.
The coming legislature, in case
his bill was by the strenuous exer- y
ions of our Senator and Congress-
nen, passed, can district the State,
our first delegates to be !
lected at large, or what would be J
etter, a special session might be
allied prior to the October election, s
nd the districts formed and the Z
lection had by districts next fall. T
But if, Is is likely, no success T
nall be attained during the present Z
,ssion of Congress, we are in favor {
[ the plan of electing two contin- q
ent Congressman next fall, and o
the fight for their admis- il
on into the next Congress, upon q
lie showing of the enumeration, II
lis spring. a
If Congress refuses, of course there n
no appeal, but the effort should De v
newed after the more elaborate OF
ate census that our constitution p
reefs to be taken next year. u
This years census will show an 81
crease of about 23e, 600 inhabitants
nee 1870. Recognising the fact
at less than one-half of the in
ease of the current year has vet of
en- made, inspection will show Il,
at We have added forty per cent. b<
lnually to our population. This nj
will give us, next spring, an ag- j
egate of 490, 1000, a population that II
,uld entitle US to four members,
wing as q fraction over the th
ion for three the population of 10,
600. to
If Congress still persists In refus-
3 us additional representation, the m
will be that Nebraska, 20
1880, will have one beggarly .
.mber for something over Q mill tn
n of people, an injustice to aState E
thout a parallel in the history Of I'd