Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-02-23
coxoREssIeNAL APPORTIoNMENT.

CONGRESSIONAL APpoRr1oNMEsT.
At all times, even when committees
are disposedto deal equitably, it is a
delicate matter to provide for con-
srsssiond representation. The near
est approach possible to an exact
award without a division of votes,
necessarily leaves residuums of which
some states, party Or section will get
! the benefit. But when apportionment
is approached in a partisan spirit, I'M
less what is %concocted is defeated, the
result must be either unjust combina-
ton or d~isgraceful compromise.
Heretofore, states having the largest
residuums, and, on that account.
making the nearest approaches to
districts, have been allowed to fur
nish fractional representatives; but
the %apportionment bill reported by
the census committee, happily amend
ed. and thus practically defeated, de-
parted from this time-honored custom
and by the adoption of a new method,
suggested by Mr.. Seaton of the Cen
aus Bureau, gave Illinois one repre-
sentative for every 1866 of its i'll
habitants, and New York one for
every las, 496 of its population, while
to California there was awarded only
one for every 172 ,93s; to Florida,
only one for every 269,493, and to
Rhode Island only one for every 49,
93S. The bill provided for 800 MEM
bers upon a numerical basis of 154,-
2S5, which divided into the popula-
tons Of the several states, resulted in
3O2 whole congressional districts.
To these it was proposed to add 10
for fractional representation. About
the award Of 10 of these, there was
no dispute. The contention was
the three given to the large states
of New York, Pennsylvania and Ill
inois for the purpose of increasing
the strenth of the Republican party
in the House and at the next Presi-
dental election.
But the committee mistook the
temper of the majority of Congress,
1t forgot that the Republican party is
, wholly dependent upon the New Eng
land States for the power it exercises
! and that these, chafed by decrease O,
their actual and comparative congress
sional representation, would oppose /
further diminution of it. In the pas
the citizens Of these states, in the adj
vancement and protection of thei
industries, have realized, individual,
and collectively, what it is to hav,
preponderating influence at Washing
ton. Notwithstanding their loss o
population, they retain II senators
! 6 Of whom are chairmen of first ant
5 of second class committees, givin!
them abundant power of self-protec
ton in the relative condition of fac
tionaI and national politics. Rod
Island has always had two member
in the House. The proposed bi]
{ gave that State only one. Rhode Is
land has also ever been cOnspicuou
for its smart men, but its congress
men and senators thought it would b
requiring too much if that little CON
monwealth were asked to send a dele
gate to Washington capable of at
Z. tending to the interests Of 276,93
/ persons, while the grand old Empir
? State was left off with providing rel
resentatives with ability narrowe
tlownto the wants of those of ahundre
thousand less, one of whom wOul
have no constituency at all because
upon the basis adopted, New Ior
: would have been entitled upon exat
arithmetical division to 32 $40 dis
g tricts, and not 81, as set forth i'll til
bill. The Liberal New Englanders
Z therefore, combined with the demot
racy of South Carolina and Texas
defeated the committees work, an
II forced a substitute therefor upon tn
Republican party, providing for
House to be composed of 325 men
bes, distributed as follows: To AL;
h11a 8; Arkansas, 5; California, 6
Colorado, L; COnnIecticut, 4; DELE
ware /; Florida, 2; Georgia 10; Ii
ainois, 20; Indiana, 10; Iowa, ii
Kansas Z; Kentucky, IL; Louisian:
6; Maine, 4; Maryland 6; Massacht
setts, -; Michigan, IL; Minnesota
Is; Mississippi, Z; Missouri, IA; NJ
hraska, 8; Nevada, 1; New Haml
shire, 2; New Jersey, Z; New lorl
81; North Carolina, 9; Ohio, II
Oregon, 1; Pennsylvania, 2o; Rhot
Island, 2; South Carolina, Z; Tel
nessee, 10; Virginia, 10; We
Virginia, 3; Wisconsin, 9.
This distribution corresponds Wit
the growth of population, and make
no other change in the relati'
strength of political parties. III
aggregate electoral vote under III
apportionment will be 4ol, OF whl(
the Is southern states, including we
4 Virginia, will have 157, to which &C
q IS for Nevada, New jersey, lndial
and New York, and there IS here'
shown q probable democratic vote
. 22O, or 10 more than a majority.
4 The United States Express Col
Il pany has just supplied all EXPIRE
cars on the ChicaUO & Alton X.