The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-11-16
CONGRESSIONAL REArPoRr1oNmENr.

CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONNIENT
The purpose for which the Constitution directs
that there shall be count of the people of the
country every ten years is to secure an equal
representation of its different sections in the
House of Representatives on the basis of popu-
lation. However unsatisfactory and untrust-
worthy, therefore, the new census may be- it
furnishes, after all, the only official figures we
have of the present population of the United
States, and unless Congress orders new count
it is upon these figures that the new apporton-
ment of representatives will be made.
The duty of Congress in regard to representa-
tion in the House consists in fixing the basis of
such representation 1t is incumbent on it to
determine the number of people necessary to
constitute a district, or rather the number ap-
portioned to one representative, for a State may
be so dstricted that to give it the representation
to which it is entitled some of its Congressmen
may have to be elected at large.
After the ratio of population has been decided
upon the uniform practice has been to leave the
redstricting to the States. The abuse of this
power has had for its result the system of unjust
and corrupt "gerrymandering' to which several
of the States have been repeatedly subjected by
one party or the other. But no amount of 'ger-
rymandering" or any other eXpedient will avail
to change or obviate the basis of representation.
and therefore the fixing of that basis for the
term of ten years is matter of the most serious
Importance.
At first thought it might seem that any num-
Der agreed on would affect all the States equally
and impartially, since their representation is to
be ascertained through dividing their several
populations by the same ratio. But no divisor
can possibly be found that will exactly measure
the populations of all the States. Whatever
basis of apportionment may be adopted there
VIII be in each State remainder of population,
as it were, which must go unrepresented. This
is the point at which partisan advantage may
be gained. Each party thinks it desirable to
secure such basis as will include within the
States OF the opposing party the larger proper
tion and volume of the unrepresented remain
ders of population which are inevitable A Just
basis would be one which would most nearly
equalize these remainders in all the States.
This question of reapportionment is without
doubt the most important that will occupy the
time and attention of the approaching session
of Congress. Either the Dunnell bill or a SINH
lar measure will probably pass, though there is
natural feeling that the Republican majority
in the present House, having so utterly lost the
confidence of the country, can scarcely be
trusted to deal wisely with this momentous
matter II is very certain that any attempt at
an unfair adjustment will be bitterly and stren-
uously opposed.
If, as seems likely, 100000 is adopted as the
basis of reapportionment,i the total membership
OF the House, allowing an additional member
in those States where the fractional remainder
is more than half the ratio, will be 344. Of
these 23S will be from Northern States and 1O6
from the South. Maine, Virginia, South Caro-
lima, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio will each
lose one Representative, while New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri,
Kansas. Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Washing
ton, and Oregon will each gain one, Minnesota
two, and Nebraska three. Delaware, North
Dakota and Montana have each a little less
than 10000 inhabitants. Wyoming, Nevada,
and Idaho all together can hardly make up
that number among them, being in the Union
simply and solely for Republican partisan ad-
vantage. Yet each must have one Representa-
tive and two Senators, making Congressional
representation of nine members for less than
100000 people.
Beyond question the day will come when the
people of the United States will make serious
inquiry in regard to the inequalities of repre-
sentation which are involved in our present
methods of government When that day
comes the place, purpose, and usefulness of the
Senate in our representative system will be
fully discussed, and the result will probably be
the creation OF body which can be brought
more readily than at present into accord with
the popular mind, and which will more equally
and justly reflect the influence of the various
sections of the country.