San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-08-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Prom our regular Correspondent
yv,su,voroy ID O. July 2S, 1890

tttuAhf Sess'"fNF
WAsmNoroS, D. @, July rs, 1890
II is safe 10 say that there is no
consuming desire on tho part oil the
Senate, either by the adoption OF
stringent rules or in the ordinary
course, TO crown it's work with the
enactment of an election law such
as would be not only purely partisan
In its character, but of doubtful par
tisan expediency. Not that the Sen
ate is in tho habit Of being outdone
by the House, when il comes to ques-
tons OF craftsmanship, but there are q
number OF Republican Senators who
like 10 SEQ their way clear to safe
and certain results before committing
themselves TO the support OF legisla-
ton so radical rs to BIO revolutionary.
and il ia extremely doubtful whether
a quorum can BIO mustered to pass
the force bill excepting as an heroic
measure, necessitated by the OBJ
structive tactics of the opposition.
The tariff bill is yet to be disposed
of as by oil odds Of more Importance
to the country than the force bill,
even II the latter be conceded oil the
merit tibet it's advocates claim for 1t;
and the thrift discussion is certain to
consume good deal Of time, pro-
longing the session to a period when
it would impracticable to apply the
machinery of the galvanized Daven-
port law TO this falls elections.
The question OF u new apportion-
ment. when it comes up IN the House,
will be an interesting one. After
every census the apportionment b. 8
been changed to meet the require
ments of the increase OF population,
and the popular branch of Congre 8
has increased in membership accord
ingly. Now the House has 332 men,
beers, counting those from the new
states, thaugh 1922 was the number
given by its last apportionmen'.
This was based on the apportion ment
of one Representative to every l51,-
900 people. The total population OF
the country at the last census was
so, 1856, 1923, and this year it is estimat-
ed that it will approach 65,O0O,0Oo.
This large increase will make 1t
necessary either to increase the basis
of representation or increase tie
membership of the House or both.
The question has almost as many
sides as the House has members.
Some, who think the present body
too large and unwleldy, hold that
under no circumstances should the
size of it be increased. Others favor
cutting down the basis of represent
alton and allowing the membtrsh p
to run as high as it could, pointing
out that the British House of Com
mons has about 700 members, and
yet manages to do the work required
of popular body. Between these
extremes there are advocates OF many
other plans. One of the most talked
of is to increase the basis of repre-.
sentation to 10000 or 1856, 1000, which
would. probably give the uopse a
membership of $50 or 800. If this
is done, the increase would scarcely
be sufficient to cut any state out OF
representative.
Strange sensations must come
over Mr.. Blaine these days when lie
notes the quarters from which he is
winning applause as be scores point
after point against the Mckinley
Tariff bill and it's trainers. Mr..
Blaine shows his shrewdness in en-
deavoring to get in line with the
ariff-reform sentiment which b 8
grown strong even in his own party.
The policy which he advocates will
work out the result for which DEM
ocratic ariff-reformers have struggled
SO long. and although it will do it
under different name, the same end
will eventually be attained. l.,