Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-02-09
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
Our Lawmakers.
A Dual Plan to Apportion
Them.
FEATURES OF THE TWO SYSTEMS,
A BITTER STRUGGLE LIKE
LY TO ENSUE.
HEARING GRANTED TO A MORMON.
Delegate Cannon Before a
House Committee.
FEATURES OF THE TWO SYSTEMS.
HEARING GRANTED TO A MORMON.
Delegate Cannon Before ;
House Committee.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The Apportionment B1ll-Provisions of
the Two Systems Before the Hous.-A
Measure Likely to Create Much Dis
cussion-Other Matters
WASHINGTON, Feb 8.-As the relative
merits of the new and old methods of appor-
tioning representatives will form the basis of
large proportion of the discussion upon the
apportionment bill now being considered by
the House, the features of each are again
stated. In each method the total represen-
tative population of the country is divided
by the proposed number of members in the
House. The quotient gives the number of
inhabitants to be made the basis for each
district. The population of each State is
then divided by this number and the num-
Der of full districts in the States is so deter
mined There is left in each case remain
der which is fraction of the number allot
ted full district. By this division the num-
Der of members allotted a full district is less
than the total membership of the House. It
is in allotting these extra representatives for
fractional districts that the points of differ
ence between the old and new system devel-
OPP. The old method compares the remain
one representative to the State in
which this remainder or fraction is the
greatest, another to the next highest
remainder, and SO on until the entire number
is allotted. The new system is based upon
the theory that not those remainders, but the
quotient produced by dividing the popula-
tions of the States by the increased number
of representatives should govern the addi-
tional allotment, and additional representa-
|,
the districts in the States where they are so
assigned shall be as nearly as possible equal
in size to the standard number for the dis
trIct which the first division produced. Hav
ing thus determined by trial under what addi-
tional distribution the number of inhabitants
per representative in States whose represent
alton is increased would fall least below the
general ratio, the distribution is made accord
ingly.
The committee investigating the Treasury
department still continue the examination of
witnesses, most of them being former wit
nesses recalled. Among those thus recalled
were Powers, chief clerk, Pitney, late custo-
dian, and number of employees under Pit
ney. Comment is made upon an alleged
statement by Pitney that he was frequently
requested by Secretary and Mrs. Sherman to
send persons to their residence to- perform
certain work there, and it is said he pro-
duced notes making such requests signed by
both. Mr. Sherman's friends do not deny
that such services were performed, but say
the time was taken out of the pay of these
workmen and charged to the secretary's pri-
vate account and Mr.. Sherman has vouchers
for the same. If there was any work done
for him that was not charged 1t was for some
small matter of which he knew nothing and
of which Pitney neglected to take account.
There is good authority for the statement
that Sherman's personal character has not
been touched by this investigation.
The House Judiciary committee to-day
heard Delegate Cannon of Utah, who in ar
guing the law points in his case commended
that under the Constitution the Governor had
no authority to consider his religious belief
as matter affecting his right to the certif-
cate of his election.
The President has pardoned James Webb,
who was convicted of murder and sentenced
by the United States Consular Court. at Ma
gaski, Japan, to be hung. This case. gave
rise to paragraph in the Presidents message
in which he said 'In Japan and China some
changes are desirable in the present system
of our consular jurisdiction.