The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-19


House OF Representatives for reSpportion'
Ing representation in that body under tht
census Of 1850. Il Is worthy OF remark that
all the schemes assume that there can be NC
considerable increase In the number Of
members. Mr.. Cox proposes 3oI members
and Mr.. SPRINGER 293 members. 1, bai
been suggested, however. that either 2oS oil
500 members would constitute about as un
manageable body as would $50 members
since the house has already ceased to be
dehbera,iye body. The British House o.
Commons Is much larger body. Inc
attendance upon IT, siuings. however
Is not by any means large. but Tho
number OF absentees at almost oil
times Is astonisblngly large. The worn
OF The House OF Representatives is done
principally in committee. The speeches
are mostly made for Buncombe-thst is ioi
home consumption. But this Is not inva'
riabiv the case. On the contrary, Tue 0e'
bates are occasionally real discussions OF
The questions before the HOUSE, and are en-
tered into as means OF gaining and i'm
parting correct views OF the subjects under
confederation. The debates on the new
funding bill strike us as being OF this na'
ture. A larger number OF members would
in no way prevent or interfere with discus
sions Of that kind, provided the members
were in proper mood 10 engage In them.
Virginia Is likely to have nine represen-
tatiyes under any bill that may be passed.
II will, therefore, be plainly TO her interest
that the number Of members shall be as
small as a regard for Justice and lair play
will allow. SINCE her relative voting strength
will be diminished In proportion as the
number OF members shall be increased.
She will have only one member for every
I6s,9 7s OF her population, whether the num-
Der OF members be only 293 or run up TO
3lO. IL the ratio OF representation be 1Xed
at 10000, Virginia would have fraction
OF only some 50 900 souls unreprese0ted.
n fixed at 1GS. 900, she would lack small
number Of having population enough 10
entitle her 10 nine representatives; but the
fraction would be so large that she would
of course get nine. The present ratio oi
representation is 1871 ,425. III this were con-
tinued, she would have certainly eleven and
probably twelve members.
Delaware can have but one representative
under any ratio, her population being only
1864. Florida viii squeeze through with
two. her population being only 1900 q.
Vermont will also have only two under any
ratio, her population being only 49,, $50.
New Hampshire is in a still more unfortu-
nate condition, her population being 341.-
7sI. or TOO much by fifteen or twenty
thousand for two representatives, but not
enough by many thousands for three.
Rhode Island will have TWO representatives,
her population being 27G.52S. The large
fraction will save her second member.
Ii is not mere question of arithmetic,
therefore, it is evident, to rearportion rep
resentation. The question of fractions is
troublesome one. Take Florida and New
York. Under ratio OF 10000 Florida
would get two mcmbers-one being based
on the large fraction OF 10l ,566 left over az
eter allowing her one representative. But to
give her this extra representative would be
to allow her one representative for 1928
OF population. New York, however, would
under the same ratio have only thirty-One
members: and ii she were allowed an addi-
tioual one would still have population OF
about 100, 900 behind each Of her represent
atIyes. Nevertheless, Florida, not New
York. would get the extra representative.
The question Of proportional representa-
ton, or minority representation, is broacb-
ed In Mr.. SPRINGER's bill, and will receive
due consideration in Congress. The south
ern members will hardly couDtenance any
scheme OF that sort, seeing that it would
give 70 the negroes absolute power To elect
a large number Of congressman in the
South. But this fact would commend mi-
Republicans, especially those OF the stall
wart stripe. We would not be sur
plsed il this consideration should Sc
cure q good many votes for minori-
ty representation from the Republicans
in Congress. Nevertheless, there is an
other consideration that may more than
concordance the one mentioned above;
and this is the fact. that any fair scheme OF
proportional representation, would insure
to the Democrats a large number OF con-
grcssmen in the northern States that they
can never hope to gain under the existing
system.
Proportional representation would abol-
ish sectionalisn, it has been said. We are
not sure but this Is true. This cOnsidcra.
ton would reconcile us to a trial OF that
sor. OF representation. II it would dissolve
at once and forever solid South and
solid North, 1t is well worthy OF an expert
ment. More hereafter on this point.