Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-18
THE CENSUS.
The Bringing Up Of the Appor-
tionment Bill
AFFORDS A LONCED-FOR OPPORTUNITY
Members Severely Criticise Secretary Noble
and Superintendent Porter-The Census
Declared to Have Been Cooked-Its
Correctness Challenged.

Texas, as privileged question, offered
a concurrent resolution providing for
holiday recess from December %, 1890,
to January s. 1891.
Mr. Dunnell, of Minnesota, then called
up as privileged question the appor-
tionment bill and briefly explained its
provisions The bill appeared, he said,
in response to the requirements of the
Constitu ton and was based upon the
eleventh census, which showed graft
flying increase in the population OF the
United States There was a diversity
of opinion among members OF the
House as to whether the pres
ent representation should stand or
whether it should be increased. Some
difference of opinion had also been
shown in committee, but it had finally
been determined to accept $50 as the
proper number. This number had been
selected because it had beenfound to
be the number first reached between
332 and 375 that would secure to every
State at least It's present representa-
ton. With $50 members the ratio of
population would be 1901 If the
present representation were retained
many States would lose one or more
members
Mr.. Flower, of New York, protested
against the passage of the bill and Sc
verely criticised the census returns OF
New York City, and Mr.. Mills of Tex
as, said he believed that New York had
lost an enumeration to which she was
entitled, but her loss was not as great
as the loss IN the enumeration of the
population of his own State, which
amounted to 500, 900.
Mr. McRae, OF Arkansas, gave notice
of an amendment increasing the Repre-
sentat ives to $50
Mr. Outh waite, of Ohio, stated that
great injustice had been done in his
State in the taking of the census I'm
der the census Illinois had become the
third State of the Union. 1t was not
true that Illinois had grown so rapidly
nor that Ohio had fallen to such an ex-
tent as to make Illinois e third State
The whole census ought to be revised
and retaken so that the representation
should be apportioned among the States
according to population and not accord
ing to schemes of political advance
ment
Mr.. Quinn. of New York, protested
against the injustice done to the city of
New YORK.
Mr.. Frank, of Missouri, earnestly adj
vocated the bill, which was baseG upon
a bill originally introduced by himself.
Mr. Flower, of New York, offered an
amendment increasing to thirty-fVe the
Representatives from New York, and
Mr.. Dunphy, of New York, character
zed the pending bill as the first born of
a great wrong-a wrong which was
based upon an incorrect apportionment
of the people.
Mr.. Cummings, of New York, pre-
scented the we'll known grounds upon
which New York City had challenged
the census. He favored increasing the
representation to $50, and Mr.. MoAdoo,
of New Jersey, hoped that the Fifty
second Congress would appoint strong
committee to investigate the whole
census business.
Mr.. Lind, of Minnesota, favored the
McRea amendment The apportion-
ment bill, he thought, would be salts
factory and just to the country. 1t was
conceded on both sides that there was
difficulty in regard to the census of
New York City, and that at least
800, 900 names had been omitted.
If that concession went through
it was fair to assume that the omis-
sion was much larger. Intending to
appease the feelings of New York ICON
sidering its large fraction) it would be
but fair and just to give that State an
additional Representative. The same
was true of Arkansas and Minnesota,
and this bill, while it might fit the
theory of the committee, did injustice
to those States.
Mr.. Biggs, of California, complained
that San Francisco had not had fair
enumeration. and that not one enumer-
ator was a Democrat
Mr.. Peel declared that three to five
counties in his State had not been
enumerated and no effort made to emu
merate them. Arkansas had lost 100, 900
names, he believed, by failure to count
Mr. Dunnell, of Minnesota, in closing
the debate, spoke in favor of the bill
and expressed his regret at theattack
made on the Secretary OF the Interior
by the gentleman from New York, Mr.
Spinola If there was one man in Pres
ident Harrison's Cabinet who had the
respect of every fair and honorable man
on the north side of the House it was
Secretary Noble. 1t had never seemed
reasonable to the committee that New
York should be granted special privi-
lege. No other city had come here dis
regarding the law and he regretted that
the gentleman from New York should
let fall from his lips an attack upon an
official of the Government to which he
could not reply.
The hour of having arrived, Mr..
Dunnell demanded the previous ques-
ton and Mr.. Blount of Georgia, inter-
jected motion to adjourn, and during
the progress of the vote the Democratic
members took their hats and overcoats
and left the hall, showing disposition
to break quorum on the next vote.
The motion to adjourn was lost-yeas,
11si nays, 145-and at the suggestion Of
Mr.. Blount. of Georgia, it was agreed
that after two hours debate next day
the previous question should be consid-
cred as ordered, and the House adj
journed.
General rer-.1l nead