New-York tribune., 1882-02-09
rnE AppORrIONMENT DISCUsSIoN.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


WAsuyGrON Feb. s.-The discussion of tho AD.
rortionmcnt bill was rcsr:ced in the House to-day
Int much less interest was manifested han on yes
te-lav. Whether this was because the members
generally. not being of a mathematical turn, had
become suddenly Indifferent 10 4 debate which thu;
far has been mainly confined to units, ratios and
co-1plri>ons and combinations of groups of figures
or because a majority of the members had already
determined how they will vote rs between the Old
method and the new. it is impossible 70 say al
though the latter appears the more probable reason
Mr. Rayne If Pennsylvania, made an elaborate
agreement in favor of the new method and OF the
McCojd bill in favor of increasing the membership
of the House 10 $40. Nj Bayue advanced the novel
argument that members of Congress nowadays have
so many things TO attend 10 besides their legitimate
Guties that considerable increase OF members Is
actually necessary Mr.. Baync spent an hour in
irving TO make his hearers understand the phi
losophy and what lie declared to be the "mathemat-
jcal accuracy" of the new method. lie presented a
great MANY comparisons and numerous deductions
from groups of figures to demons rate the justice OF
reducing the representation of Rhode Island and
Florida and increasing that Of New-YOrk and
Pennsylvania: but in conclusion he was forced TO
admit that both methods work injustice to partcu-
lar States and to declare that by the new method
the injustice is reduced to a minimum. Mr.. Bayne
Thought that the complaint in behalf of California,
that under the new method it would be allowed five
members instead of six, TO which 1t would
be entitled under the old method was
hardly Just. considering that in its popula-
hon-SO2 525 there are included 10000
Chinese who cannot become citizens of the United
States aud 10000 Indians who are not citizens.
He also discussed the question of relative political
power and asserted that if il We're TO be regarded,
N.w-York would be entitled TO seven times as many
members, and Pennsylvania To AVe times as many
members as California.
Mr. Cocrck, a Democratic member from Indiana.
followed Mr. Bayue reading his speech III a tone de-
signed to lie solemn and impressive but which he
succeeded only in making very dOlcful He opposed
the new method OF apporlnnlncnt, ana declared
that II had been devised To ron FIOnda OF a mem
Der in order to increase the high tariff representa-
1i0n from Pcursylvanla that Ncw-lork was 10 he
given another member IN the interest OF " the Ma
debt ard that Rhode Island was 10 be
robbed Of a member for the benefit Of
Illinois and to secure the votes of members from
that State for the McC0ld bill Nobody interrupted
the discourse Ot Mr. CO-rIck.
There is one consideration bearing upon the pros
pcclS Of the McCOd Till, which has not so far been
mentioned in the discussion, hut winch Is OF great
practical consequence. No apporiiOnment bill can
H. passed which does not receive the approval of the
Senate. and in that body Rhode Island or Florida
has a. many votes as New-YoTk OF PemSy lvauia. 1t
is generally claimed now that the new method Opc-
Ia e TO tie disadvantage of States each having
population less than 100000, and that the more
popu.Ous states reap a corresponding advantage
The less pUpuOuS States are - IN number and they
have II votes in the Senate against ~ votes nom
the larger States and, therefore, even should the
very Improbable it would in al probability be de-
1eatcd III the Senate.