Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-24
Features OF the Proposed NeW APP
norfiOnment.


Superintendent Walker, Of the census.
having made his official report to Con-
ress, through Secretary Scburz, of the
population of the States and Territories
Of the United States. the matter Of the
new apportionment for members of Con-
gress comes to the front in an authentic
shape. The total returned population
of the States is AZ, $3.50 SOS; of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, III, 6SS, and of the
Territories, COS. 633-an aggregate Of
so, 152, s66. The ratio Of representation
on the present basis Of 293 members Of
the House will be one member to 16S, 4S7
persons; on the basis Of 294, one to
167 ,924; with 295, one TO 167, 354; with
296. one to 166. 789. With 500 members
the ratio would be one TO 164,565; with
3O1 members, one to 164,01s. and with
3O7, one to 16O.s13. General Walker. in
his letter to Representative s. 5. Cox, Of
New York, on the subject, says:
cit appears that by the increase from
293 TO 294, Massachusetts gains /; by
the increase TO pos. Louisiana gains 1
BY the increase to 296, Pennsylvania
gains 1 BY the increase 10 297, Maryland
gains /; By the increase to 298. New
York gains /; by the increase TO 299,
Alabama gains 1. When the total mum
Der Of Representatives is increased 10
800, one of the most striking features Of
the table sppears-Alabama loses the
Representative she gained at 299. and
Texas and Illinois gain each At 301,
Alabama regsins the Representative 50
lost: by the increase Of 302, Florida
gains /; by the increase to BOB. Ohio
gains /; by the increase TO 3O4, North
Carolina gains 1 by the increase to 305.
Tennessee gains I; by the increase to
306, Pennsylvania gains 1.
In making the calculations the remain
ders are not counted in the tables for the
different States. The difference in the
membership which thus occurs. accord
ing 10 the most recent and equitable
practice, should be made up by assigning
to the States having the largest fractions
Of population left over additional Rep
resentatives until the complete aggregate
is reached. When this assignment Of
Representatives cat large" fills out all Of
the agreed number, it should cease
Some singular results Of the proposed
new apportionment are worthy Of note
'It is a curious eccentricity of mathe-
mates" remarks Mr.. Cox on this sub
ject-"a paradox-that Alabama loses at
800 the Representative she gained at 300,
and Texas and Illinois gain one each.
At 301 Alabama regains the Represents
tive so lost; by the increase to 302 Flori-
ds gains one; by the increase to
800 Ohio gains one; by the in
crease to 304 North Carolina gains
one; by the increase TO 3O5 Ten
nessee gains one; by the increase TO
500 Pennsylvania gains one; by the in
crease to 307 New York gains another,
making two gains over 1893, under the
census of 1880, but still New York even
then loses one from her present number
assigned her under the apportionment Of
1870" In 1880 Massachusetts had 20
members, now Bhe has II; New York
then had 40, now she will not hold her
present number, 80, unless the total
number is put at 3O7. Virginia used to
have %. but the number is now only 9.
The bill which has been introduced by
Mr. Cox is order to provide for making
the superintendent requires the member
ship Of the House, after March 8. 1883,
to be 3O1 Representatives Of States. In
this apportionment Georgia will retain
her present representation. The third
section Of the bill is to the effect that
''In each State entitled under this ap-
portionment the number to which such
State may be entitled in the Forty
| eighth and each subsequent Congress
shall be elected in districts composed Of
contiguous territory and containing as
nearly SIS practicable an equal number OF
| inhabitants and equal in number to the
! Representatives TO which such State
NAV be entitled in Congress, no one dis
/ trict electing more than one Representa-
tive"
This is to prevent as much as possible
the process of "gerymandering." Any
new apportionment which may be made
will favor the Democratic States and
Congressional districts, at the expense Of
those which have Republican majOrities.