The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-19
THE APp0RTIONMENT

THE APP0RTI0NMEHT'
It q msoted question whether the present
Congress will or not mako tho congressional
apportionment under the census Of last year
II seems at this writing that tho official con-
sus report is not yet ready, or at least ha'
not bssn presented. Some persons suggest
that this official report is withheld on pur'
pose, ss the census bureau is in the hands OF
tina republican party, and tho present con-
gross being democratic, the basis Of sppor'
tionment might DO made al lower
figures than the republicans might
desire, that the southern states would thereby
get larger percentage OF congres'mea.
While II 10 true that SEINE of the southern
states have 20 rapidly increased in populs-
tiOn rs to gain largely in congressional repre-
sen.ation, yet, We incline to tho opinion
from tho lille ws have been able to CLEAN
from the census reports madc public, that
tho aeuth, as whole, has net materially
gained in this respect. But,supposng that the
south had doubled in population and would
therefore gain in its congressional rcpreien'
tation very la,gely,is that any reason why,any
good, valid reason wherein the prosperity
of the country is concerned, tho republican
party or any other party should make the
apportonment political issue and sup
prsts official reports Of tho census until q
republican congress came into power to set
thereon We don't assert that the census
returns aro being kept back, because ws
don't know that this ia fac, but it seems
reasonable, rs such extraordinary efforts
were mado ito have tho entire
census of the country compiled by
the end of June, 1850, that the
bureau ought to..bo sblo to lay all its facts
and figures before this congress, that is might
at once take official action so as to enable
state Legislatures now in session TO re-appor-
ton their states. - There are at this time
twenty legislatures.in session, some Of which
will not meet again after they adjourn for
two years. The next congress docs not meet
again until December Of this year, and If
census matters arc postponed until then, why
those states entitled to an increased rcpresen.
tation in congress.will not DO enabled to on
JOY their privilege without q called session Of
tho Legislature if their sessions are biennial
until 1884. Le. as take Texas for example.
Our Legislature ia now in session and at tho
end of ninety or hundred days wo may
reasonably iufcr that 1t will adjourn. Except
in called session, it.".csnnot meet again, 90
we will hayono Legislative session again until
in January 1889, and ifno Appropriateness
is made until that session, Texas will have
TO do without her increased representation
until the election in 1884, losing one term Of
congress. We ask if there is any good rea-
son for this Can tho state legislature act
in apportioning, or rather in rediStrict-
Ing the state, until congress acts
In fixing the basis of representation Those
are questions for consideration, and On which
We would like 10 bave enlightenment. Wa
have from time to timo received documents
from tho census bureau giving US the statistics
OF this and that state, but never anything
concerning Texas. We do not know that
tho press ofihe other states arc given the ro-
turns Of every other state than their own,
but certainly that 10 our expori0Scc. We
have every reason to boliSve, however, that
tho population OF Texas is in tho nsighbor-
hood of 100000, nearly double what il was
ten years ago. We CLEAN
these figures from sources We deOm
reliable, and we arc certain that these figures
are very nearly correct. II is generally IN
dera!ood and agreed that the basis Of repre-.
sentation will DO increased from the prssen,
figures to say, 10000 of population FOR each
representative in congress. This basis, Civ
ing Texas in round figures, 100000 popu.
hton, will ont;tle us to niue representatives
In congress, nm increase of three. Now, the
question Ia, while we know in all rssson that
We arc entitled to nine representatives in cor
gross, can tho legislature go to work and lay
OF nino congressional districts in tho state 7
II the legislature should do this work befors
congress passes upon the official census 70.
turns, and Axes tho basis of representation.
will 1t holdgooig will thonine representa-
hves DO allowed to take their seats, or ouly
BIZ, or any at all ? Congressman have WAYS
peculiar to themselves of constituting oussa
tons of this nature, and as each house o,
congress under tho constitution Is the iudee
OF the eligibility of its own members, md az
party generally rules in issues Of this kind.
we do not know how to express oursolyo, on
thispoint. We do not want to see our s,sie
suffer in any particular, especially in thiu
matter, forit Is one of vital Importance.
We presume that our Legislator, .-u oqual TO
this emergency, but it is not aiss 10 sub.
NIT q few remarks upon II, II il il only TO
call their attention TO ii.
.--
MR., Q. K. LORD, general passenger agent
IF tha na1t,,. $50 q. Oh.o