Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1889-07-04
THE CENSUS.
THE APPORTlONMENT FOR REPRE-
SENTATIVE IN CONGRESS.

Mathematical Paradox General Walkers
PIan-Index to Committee Reports-A
Monster yolume-An Odd Coincidence. !
Especial Correspondence of the Times
WASHINGTON, June 29.-One of the {
most curious features of the census OF
1890, and one of the most interesting, Will
be the reapportionment of the representa-
ton in the house of representatives from
the different states in accordance with the
population of each This reapportion-
ment will not go into effect until March
3, 1898, but the matter will undoubtedly
be brought before the congress. The
taking of the census will likely be COM
pleted in December, 1890, and soon after
the returns of population are made to
congress by Superintendent Porter, bills
for reapportonment will be introduced
and referred to the committee on census.
An effort will undoubtedly be made to
have the reapportionment made by the
congress then in session, for many OF the
features are purely arbitrary and the Re
publican party which will then be in
power may profit by the arrangement.
The present membership of the house
of representatives is 1926. This is i'll an
accordance with the law of February 70,
1882, containing the apportionment under
the tenth census. This will be increased
to $50 in the next congress by the admit
lance of the four new states, one OF winch
is entitled to two representatives. Inc
law of 1882 provided that whenever new
IL 1,n, l,N,itt tod tn no
representative or representatives assigned
to it should be in addition to the number
325. The basis of representation now is
larger than it has ever been-l5l, 9l2. ii
the original basis of representation pro
vided by the constitution should be FOL
lowed now we would have more than
1000 members of the house and that body
would be entirely uncomfortable. From
1889 to 1892 the basis of representation
was that provided by the constitution
10000 population for each representatives
1t was provided, however, that any state ate
not having total population of 10000
should be entitled to one representative
But for this provision of the constitution,
still in force. several of the states would
be represented only in the upper branch
of congress.
From 1892 to 1903 the basis of represen-
tation was population of $4,000 based
on the first census, which was taken IN
1890. During the next period OF ten
years the basis remained the same. IN
1913 it was raised to $4,000; under the
next census to $1,000; then to AZ 200, to
70.6SO, to SO, 423, to 1881, to l3l ,425
and finally in 1888 to 151,9l2. The way
the conclusions are arrived at is by the
introduction in the house of representa-
tives of bill providing for a certain rep
resentatiOn from each state and by the
discussion and passage of that bill OF
some substitute for it. Several questions
are considered in connection with tins
Usually table is prepared showing tc
what representation each of the states
would be entitled by an equitable division
on the basis of population if the tota
representation should not be- increased
and showing further, what each states
representation would be if certain in
creases in the total membership of the
house should be made. AT the last cen
sus, the official return of the whole pop
ulation of the United States was 30, l52,
366. Deducting the population of tn
territories and the District of COlumbi;
(7S3,27) left the representative popula
ton 49, 1865, 595. At the time that tn
question of reapportiOnment was takel
up the total membership OF the house wa
100. "A CdlCuldblOll was ulch maui W
this plan: The final number of member
from 293 to 325 (Which the maximum
membership consideredD was used as
divisor in obtaining the ratio of represer
tation to the whole representative popt
lation. This ratio was applied succeE
sively to the population of each STATE
This process yielded in the aggregate
number less than the number of repre-
sentatives originally taken. The ditfe
ence was made up by assigning to I'll
states having the largest fractions add
tiOnal representatives.
When the house of representatives can
to consider this question a curious eccel
tricity of mathematics developed. On II
census of 1880 by the increase from 293
294. Massachusetts gained one represent
tive: bv the increase to 295 LOuisiar
gained one by the increase to 296 Pen
sylvania gained one; by the increase
297 MARYLAND gained one: by the increa
to 29S New York gained one and by Il
increase to 800 Alabama gained one. b
bv the increase to 300 the development
this mathematical paradox occurre
At 300 Alabama lost the representa-
she gained at 800 and Texas and lllint
gained one each, but at 301 Alabama !
gained the representative she had lo
The case of Alabama attracted so much
tention at the time the reapportionme
was under discussion that Representa-
Cox asked General Walker, the super
tendent of census, to explain it in deta
General Walker wrote long letter viii
was submitted to congress analyizing
operation by which this was made pos
bic. The house was not compelled, no
ever. to meet this difficulty for it was
termined after much debate to incre;
the membership to 325.
Under the reapportionment that is
he made there will certainly be so
losses in representation by the east
states. This is unavoidable under
system which changes the basis of REP
sentation every ten years. If, as 50
the basis of representation should rem