Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-04
HOUSE.
The Rsspportionment Bill Occupies the
Day.

The Indian Appropriation bill was re.
ported with Senate amendments, the
committee recommending concurrence
in some, and no concurrence in others,
among the amendments nonconcurred
is that the striking out clause abolish
ing the Indian commission. The report
was agreed to. The apportionment bill
was then taken up.
Mr.. Cox offered the amendment fix
ing the number OF Representatives at
3O7. Ordered printed and reconsidered,
pending which Mr.. Sherwin, member
OF the Census Committee, to Ok the floor
on the bill.
There was no reason that the appor-
tionment should not make this session,
since all data were in on which TO make
the calculation, comprising various bills
which had heen proposed. He showed
that at 30l, (the number first
suggested by Mr.. Cox The Democratic
States would gain s Representatives and
lose ., net gain of 6, and the Republi-
can States would gain 10 and lose s, a
net gain OF .. At the number selected
by the majority committee, 3ll, the
Democratic States would gain II and
lose none, and the Republican States
would gain 10 and lose 4. net gain OF
g. At the 3l9 number recommended
by the minority, the Democratic and
Republican States would each gain l3
Representatives Heargued in support
Of the latter bill, contending that ruath-
ematically, as we'll as politically, it
metel exact justice and fairness to every
portion OF the country, for that reason
It should commend itself to every far
minded man on the floor.
Mr.. New asked il 3l9 would not leave
a larger unrepresented population than
30l, 81 or 81.
Mr.. Sherwn-lt left slightly larger
number OF people unrepresented than
did one OF the other numbers, he forgot
which.
Mr.. Crawley opposed an increase in
the number OF Representatives in Con.
gress under Sec. OF the Fourteenth
amendment. The voters as we'll as
members might be taken into account
into apportioning representation, and
when any State denied TO any male cit
z,n over the age OF twenty-one
years the right TO vote in his
Judgment that state should be denied
representation in Just proportion IN
which il denied such the right to vote; (;
that Massachusetts, and Cynnecticut had
imposed educational qualification which
deprived many persons that right; that
Delaware, Georgia, New Hampshire,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee,
Texas and Virginia. had added proper.
ty qualification, and the allegation had
been made that in sixteen Southern
States voters had been disfrsnchised 10y
violence and intimidation. He CRITICS.
ed the bill OF the msjority also, on the
ground that it did not provide for the
continuance of a district system and
argued that to change that system would
not be good craftsmanship nor wise leg
islation.
Mr.. Ray denied that his State inpos-
ed any property qualifications.
Mr. Thompson, lOf Ny replied 10 the
criticisms Of Mr. Crowley on the minori.
ty bill, asserting that the district sys.
tenn" Was provide! for in a seperate
| law and there was no need OF re-enact.
ing it upon the present bill as to the
number Of members which the House
| should consist. He believed there was
more to fear from a reduction than from
an increase; had lie to choose he would
prefer an increase to 400 or 500 TO re-
duction of a single one. Large bodies
were less corruptible and representa-.
tives from the West and South would
favor an increase OF representation until
the House could withstand any attack
which the capitalists Of the East could
make against them.
Mr.. Reagan confined himself chiefly
to the discussion OF an amendment
which he proposed to offer to put an
end TO what he termed iniquitous gerry
Wandering, which had been practised in
several States, instancing particularly
the evils which flowed from it in hi:
own State.
The matter then went over.
Mr.. King introduced bill appropria'
ting s20, 900 for the purchase and distri
button OF seed cane Referred
Adjourned.