Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-12
Some Of the Work of an Extra Ses-


The sUbiec. OF the apportiOnment Of repre-
sentation IN Congress under the new census
must be one OF the nr5t to receive consideration
at the hanos OF the Attn Congress. An extra
session Of Congress IS advocated By q NUMBER
OF public men, especially for the passage OF an
appoTtionment act, and that ample time may
be afforded the House 10 discuss the subject In
ali IFS bearings To simply take the census re-
turns and apportion representatives among the
states according 10 those figures Is a work that
would require but little time aud labor; but In
The discussion In the late Congress, questions
we're raised which involved construction OF
The litn amendment to the Constitution,
and in this construction members OF the
House differed as widely IS possible
lt was maintained By some that the intent and
meaning OF that amendment are that Ia a state
where the right to vote is denied or abridged
In any manner or by any means. the TepreSen-
fatiGn shall be reduced In the proportion In
which that right Is abridged. Others denied
this. and insisted that the 18th amendment
governed this subject IN its section declaring
that the right or citizens OF the United States
II vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
alted states or "by any state On account OF
race, color or previous coadIJion OF servitu1e."
The l4th amendment declares that no state
SHAH Elade or enforce any law which shall
abrtdge the privileges or fmmunitIe5 OF citl-
Zen5 OF the United States" and also that when
he right to vote IS denied to Inhabitants of
state. being tTenty-one years Old,
except FOR participation In rebellion,
or crime the representation OF the state In
which such denial exists shall be reduced. The
debate III the last Congress, aud contest over
tie apportlOnment bill, indicates that these
questions are regarded as OF too much import
ance to be dismissed aid that they Will be re
newed In the next Congress. Their renewal
Win undoubtedly lead to a discussion that will
De protTacted for weeks and probably for
months, ana hence the Importance OF an extra
session, in order thai the entire subject OF an
portionrGent may be settled early enough to
allow iii the states ample time to fully con-
slider and provide tue Restricting legislation
for their representation IN the next Congress-.
especially as some states will have increased
aHd others decreased representation Several
OF the states. notably Virginia, Massachusetts
and Rhode Island have statutes regu-
laaDg and limiting the suffrage. Virginia
requires The payment OF poll-tax
OF one dollar; Massachusetts requires the pay
ment OF tax, and that the elector "shaIl be
able to read the constitution In the Eagl,sh
language and write his name" Rhode Island
requires from her Bative-born citizens the nav
mend OF tax. and Of her foreign born citizens
she exactS property qualidcation-that each
shall own 1874 worth of real estate, clear OF in
cumbranee. before he can vote IL Is main
tanned oy very many that the right OF the col
oreo men TO vote In the south Is abridged by
FORCE or other laWlSsS means. IL ia apDarent
10 all That 10 Involve these matters in the an
poltl0nment means prolonged partisan con-
test- Washington is pleasant place In the
summer, and oy taxing up this sublect before
the regular time for assembling, Congress could
proceed with II leisureIy and Carefully.