Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-17

Difference. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2So25
popplaiion of Illinois divided by 20 is 1873 1893
Divided by 81 II is. ................ 1866
Difference. 1928
pom Rhode Island 10 representatiye is 276 531
10 2 reprcsentatives each 13s,2G5
Difference ........................ 1926
Population Of New York divided by % is... l5l,02S
Divided by "a II l4'svo
Difference ...................... 1850
Population Of Florida to representative ia 200 4OJ
To representatives, each. .............. 1884, 14G
pnerencc................... i5l7l7
Population Of Pennsylvania divided by % is $4,000
Dlvded py 2y''.''.. la"o'
Difference. 5,2s5
One added to the divisor for Rhode Island
increases its power 100 per cent, while one
added to the dvsor for New York increases
its power only per cent am aware 1t is
claimed that it is more equitable for Pennsyl-
vania to have 30 representatives with l41, $50
population each, than that Florida should
have two representatives with only 1874, LAG
population each. The answer is obvious.
With 20 representatives to Pennsylvania, each
has a population of 5000 less than the ave-
rage or ratio for the United States, which
multiplied by % gives 1915 people who, If
/ may use an expressive though not an accu-
rate term, would be oyerrepresented: or in
other words, there would be representatives
! for that number Of people who do not exist,
while Rhode Island, to use a corresponding
expression, would have 122, 246 people unrep-
| resented.
Again, on the ratio of one representative
to 1874, 2Ss population, Illinois gets her TWEEN
| tieth representative by virtue of her fraction
Of lac 45G and yet this method gives her 81.
New York gets her thirty-third on fraction
of li5, 75l, aud this method gives her "a.
Pennsylvania gets her twenty-eighth on
fraction Of III, 1876, and yet she is allowed 20.
| California, on an even division, has five rep
resentatives, and with a fraction of 90, 269 is
refused an additional one. Rhode Island has
! one representative, and with a fraction of
! l22 24G is refused another Florida has one
representative, and with her fraction of 49,
| POS is refused a second. Gentlemen, this
| won't do.
| Permit Inc to state il in still another way.
| At 800 the ratio is Que representative TO lj4,-
| 2oj persons. Under this method Illinois
would have 81 members with l4G, JG5 popula-
ton each, 7,72O les, than the average; New
York "a, with 152, $50 population each, 1926
less than the average; Pennsylvania 20, with
| III, GS5 each, 5000 less than the average or
| ratio. On the other hand, California would
have %. 2G9 Rhode Island IL, 2i6, and Flor
! ida ll5, POS, more than the average or ratio,
and each is refused another representative.
| Certainly this cannot be apportioning repre-
| sentatives among the several states according
to their respective numbers, in pursuance of
the constitutional requirement.
From this point Mr.. Tyler proceeds with
the statement that on ah apportionment of
| 500 representatives the result would be the
same in 81 states under each method, the
change in system only affecting six states
the three small states of Florida, Rhode Is
land and California being unjustly dealt by
under the new method while the great states
of Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois gain
an undue or er-proportionate representa-
ton. After quoting from the Constitution
! of the United States, from Daniel Webster
and Judge Story to show that the apportion-
ment of representatives must be as nearly as
possible proportonate to the population of
the several states, under the guidance of a
common divisor, Mr.. Tyler proceeds:
l again ask the attention of the House to
the proposed appOrtionment by the new
method. Alabama has representatives, with
an average population of 49, S13 very near
the average for the aggregate population for
all the states. But Illinois has 2l, with an
average population Of LAG, 565, when 20 with
an average population of 1913, 1913 is a little
below, but nearer the general average. New
York has "a, with an average population of
l49, 49G, when 33 with an average of l54, O26
is very near the general average, and Penn
sylvania has 20 with an average of l47, 6S5,
when % with an average of 1872, 800 is a little
below but much nearer the general average
while California, Florida, and Rhode Island
are respectively assigned representatives
whose average population is far above the
common divisor for the whole population of
the United States as has been before shown.
Sir, it makes a great difference to Florida,
with her large area, and to busy Rhode Is
land, with her great manufacturing and 9th
err interests, whether they have one or two rep
resentatives each, aud it makes a great differ
ence to California, with her interests extend
ing over an area of hundred and sixty thon.
sand square miles, whether she is represent
ed on this floor by five members or by six
but to Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York,
who already have large delegations here, il
can make but little difference whether they
are reinforced by one or two members each.
Therefore, it is the duty of Congress to guard
the interests of the smaller states with watch
full care and not reduce their representation
unless compelled by mathematical necessi
ty, which does not now exist.
Mr.. Tyler concluded his speech as follows
Mr.. Speaker, this subject should be kept
|
no number should be adopted which specially
favors any section of the country. At pres
ent the twenty-five Northern states have lSi
and the sixteen Southern states LOG represen
tatives. On a reapportionment at 293 the
two sections would have 1856 and 10S, respec
lively. At 307 the Southern states would have
nine of the fourteen additional members a
3l6, l3 of the % additional members. At 81!
the two sections gain alike. After that the
balance tips the other way. At 800 the North
ern states have II of the ~ additional mem
bers at 322, 1G of the 20, and at 1926, II o.
the 32. IL is not claimed that the apporton
ment under the census Of 1870 was not fairly
made as respects the two sections, If so
there is no reason why the Southern section
should have a majority of the increase o.
members when her increase in population il
the ten years has been 1926, 500 against 6,
5S7, 500 increase in the North.
If l should be able to obtain the floor at
later stage of this debate desire to max,
some further remarks on the subject of tn,
number of members. At this time arose TO
the special purpose of discussing the method
of distribution recommended by the commit
tee, and to assign reasons for my dissen
therefrom
Mr.. Tyler yielded portion of the hour t,
which he was entitled to Mr.. Updegraff o
Ohio and Mr. Burrows of Michigan, both o
whom opposed the Seaton plan. Mr.. Bur
rows favored a membership of 321 member
as the most equitable number which can b.
hit upon. Mr.. Tyler, We believe, was tn
only Republican member of the census com
mitteo who opposed the Seaton plan. H
has fought the bill from first to last on tn