Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-05
Cox's Apportionment Measure.

WASHINGTON, February 4.-Mr Cox
got in his apportionment bill as sub
stitute for the bill reported from the
Census Committee in very queer way,
but before it was fairly determined which
was before the House he had launched
into set speech on its merits. The
committee bill provides for 81 members;
Cox's substitute for 30l. An amend.
ment to the committee bill is alec pend
ing, which provides for $40 members.
The Cox substitute has been given here.
tosore in full. The Cox figures give the
Northeast, including New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England,
Ms containing - 1 per cent. OF the popu-
laton; the West, embracing all the old
free States west of Pennsylvania, as con-
tanning 37.5 per cent. of the population.
The Cox bill gives to the Northeast
eigaty-nine members, to the West
one hundred and to the South one
hundred and twelve members. The ex-
act percentage of members correspond
ing to the population above given would
be about $50, 99l and ll2!. AS will be
seen this is a more equitable division
than can be devised upon any other
basis, and so Mr.. Cox claims. In sup.
port OF his substitute Cox made speech
of an hour and bali, to which the
House paid close attention. On census
matters Cox is at home, and this he Ger.
tainlv demonstrated day before yester-
day, for his effort is pronounced on all
sides as mastery presentment OF the
question. At its close he was greeted
with enthusiastic applause from Repub.
licans as well as Democrats, and mem
bers from all parts OF the House crowd
ed about him in congratHlatlon. The
House adjourned when he had finished.
Mr.. Cox said that the census just Ia
ken was a source OF feliCitation to all
concerned in the work, showing, as it
does, that more than 100000 people
existed in representative government.
The duty OF apportionment now de-
volyed upon Congress. The whole
population, omittlng Territories and the
District Of Columbia, was divided by
the number of members, and the quo
tient was the basis OF representation
for each member. But there was re.
sidium which should not go unrepre-
sented. The States having the largest
fraction should have an additional men,
ber. No other plan was fair. Under
this bill, which provides for 3Ol mem
hers. he said the old slave States would
gain 5 and lose members, the Middle
States would lose 3, New England Sand
- unnlH naIn IN anh
lose2. Ii any one complained that that
was sectional or partisan he might calcu.
late the net gains North and South from
number 290 TO 3l9, and he would find
that on every number the South had a
net gain over the North. That net gain
would be as follows: On 290 members,
9: on 29l, s; on 292, Z; on 293, 6; on
2g4. 5; on 295, 6; on 29G, >; on 297, 4;
on 29S. 5; on 299, 4; on 800, 3; on 3Ol,
4; on 3O2, 5; on 3O3, 4; on S04, 5; on
3O5. >; on SOC, 5; on 301, 4: on 3OS, 3; on
800, 4: on $40. 5; on 81, 8; on 3l2, B; on
3l3, 4; on 3l4, 5; on Sl5, /; on BIG, 3;
on 3l7, 3; on 3lS, /; on 3l9, none.
The loss of the South would begin with
one at 800, two at 32l, three at 322, one
at 324 and two at 325. AS the Northern
States would gain more (being larger
Stales) at that increase there would be
giving up to party or section what was
meant ior a reasonably sized body. The
bill Of Mr.. SheI win fixed the number oI
Repre- at 3l9, because there
was found in that number neither gain
nor loss TO either North or South. He
(Mr. Cox thought that number plaus
ible but a dangerous increase. The
scheme was adroit for votes, but was j,
wise for legislation? The average o.
every other number from 290 to 32(
gave gain OF 5 to the South, but hi,
bill gave a gain OF only four. That wa,
fairer than 3ll, which gave gain OF
to the South, being larger than the aver
age gain. some States would lose, bu
the line must be drawn somewhere. Il
should follow two considerations
First, the convenient number for busl
ness, and second, it should be as fully
representative as possible, by lessenins
the fractions. All would agree that tb'
number sol was more convenient thar
3ll or Sl9. 1t produced as little inc
quality as any other number.
What was needed in the House va
! not more members, but more studlou
attention 10 business. Increase OF mem
bers would only add to idleness, unles
wise industry helped. After all IT wa
2 )od legislation that inspired confidence
No argument would help the House Z
determination on this question.