The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-01
Advertisements.
irom ihc Now YORK TrIbuno.l

lYrom the New York Tribune.l
The question Of apportionment comes up
in n new form. The bill agreed upon by
the House committee proposes House OF
800 members. 10 happens that, IL the num-
her OF members IL increased from 293 TO
81 or less, the southern States get great
part Of the increase. From 31l upw ard,
however, the increase falls mainly to the
North. md the balance IL restored. The
proposed bill will give rs members to the
States formerly slaveholding; they, there
fore, gain ~ members. or 1l.3 per cent. OF
tiicir present representation, while the
northern States gain - members, or per
cent. 1t cannot be said, therefore, that the
Iroposed apportionment Is unjust to the
South or 10 the Democratic party.
The proposed apportionment gives to
New England only % members, and that
section now has 90, but IL has gained in
population less than any other, and must
lose In proportionate power whatever the
allotment may be. Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont. and Rhode Island. each
lose [ member. while Massachusetts only
gains 1. OF the other Eastern States, New
York gains | and Pennsylvania 2, New Jer-
sey remaining unchanged. These nine
Eastern States, with population OF l4,5O0,-
0O0-a little less than so per cent. OF the
whole-will have 95 representatives. less
than 30 per cent. OF the whole number,
but precisely the number that they have in
the present Congress.
THE sections which gain by the increase
in the number OF members are mainly the
Southwest and the Northwest. 10 the
three Pacific States the bill gives : men,
hers, instead OF 6, rs now, California gam
ing /. The remaining increase OF 20 men,
hcrs goes. II to the South and IA to the
North. The eight southeastern States gain
4 members, hut five Of the States gain l
each-yiz., Virginia, West Virginia, North
aud South Carolina, and Georgia, while
Florida loses ]. The eight southwestern
States Including Missouri gain Smembers;
Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mlssis-
sippi each, and Texas 4. There would
seem TO be little reason TO doubt that such
an allotment will be accepted rs fair and
even liberal by the South, since ten OF the
sixteen States gain in representatives.
The remaining increase OF fourteen men,
berS goes TO the Northwest, not one OF the
ten States losing a member. Ohio gains l;
Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and
Nebraska gain each. and Kansas gains 3.
This mighty section, with population OF
t5,200,0 600, will have Just 100 representa-
tives--a trifle over 81 per cent. OF the whole
representation for q small fraction less than
81 per cent. OF the population. But this Is
not unfair; for that section is growing
more rapidly than any other. 1t is proba-
hlc that this appOrtionmcnt, as it gives an
increase of representation TO twenty-one
States. which cast about two thirds OF the
vote, in the House, will he adopted sub
.tantiaIly as it comes from the committee.
Assuming that the number will be fixed
~ reported some controversy may be eX-
pected as to the treatment Of those States
10 which the proposed appOrtionment gives
members, as follows: California 5, and
Rhode Island and Florida | each. Ii the
old method Of allotting members with eX-
elusive regard to the size OF remaining
fractions were followed, these States would
each have member more, and New York,
PENNSYLVANIA, and Illinois each less. But
in that case member in Florida would re-
present only 134, TAG inhabitants, in Rhode
Island ouly 13S, 265. and in California only
l44,IiC. In no other State would the
ratio OF inhabitants TO members then be rs
snail; in other words, the voters OF those
states would have dispropOr,ionate share
OF power. Hence il WAS proposed by Col
onel Seaton, superintendent OF the Census,
20 allot the members with regard to the
resulting ratio of population to representa-
tiycs, and his plan was commended as the
faireSt yet devised by the late Superinten-
dent, General Walker. There is some
thing to be said on the other side,
however. The proposed plan will give
only | member TO 276,j3l inhabitants in
Rhode Island, only TO 300, 1913 in Florida,
and / 20 1899 in California, and these
numbers are further above the average
than those which would result from IN in
crease Of representation to these States are
below the average. An addition OF MEM
Der TO a State having 33 or % means very
little, but the loss OF member TO Il State
having only means much. Politically,
the exchange would be Of small conSe-
Quence, though, il Florida were allowed
| more member the South would gain
more, while the eastern States, now
having %, would have only "a. The
power Of the small States in the Senate was
intended by the Constitution TO be, and in
fact il, ample compensation for their COM
narrative weakness in the House, but il is
well to avoid even the appearance Of harsh
ness TO the weaker members Of the family.
Nevertheless, the method proposed by
Colonel SeatOn and adopted blythe commit
tee Is well calculated TO avoid some very
unjust results which the Use Of the other
method ut times involves.