New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-01
MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE..
REAPPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATION
AN ALLABSORBING TOPIC.
WHAT SHALL THE TOTAL NUMBER IN THE HOUSE
BE!-TABLES EXPLAINING THE MATTER.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE -BIBUSEl

WHAT SHALL THE TOTAL NUMBER IN THE HOUSE
BEl-TABLEs EXPLAINING THE MATTER.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE -BIBUSEI
Washington, Nov 3O-Reapportonment Of rep.
resentaton in Congress and in the Electoral Col-
ege is the subject which is uppermost in the
minds of politicians in Washington, irrespective OF
party, and one hears it earnestly discussed in
every public place and on every hand. Among
Republican Senators and Representatives the scp-
tlment III favor of the enactment of a reappoIton-
ment law at the coming session. the Consitu-.
tlon requires, IS as strong as 1t Is unanimOus all
OF them foresee the danger of remittng it to the
next Congress, in which an overwhelming Demo-
cratic ma aiOrity in one branch would find il easy
10 prevent any action until after the next Presi-
Dental election. Among many Democratic Sena-
tors and Representatives, especially men from the
Southern States, there is strong determination,
which scarcely any attempt is made 10 conceal,
TO prevent the enactment of any apportionment
law by this Congress, in order to give the Demo-
cratic majority in the next House control of the
subject and to perpetuate existing unjust and un-
constitutional irregularities Of representation until
s93. in the belief that such a course will enable
the Democratic party TO control both the Electoral
College and the House of Representatives to be
chosen in November 1892. Whether this purely
all the Democrats in Congress remains to he seen.
That an attempt will he made by the Democrats
use the allegations against the enumeration Of
the population of New-Yorll City as a pretext for
their conduct is certain, despite the fact that all
of them who have given the subject any thought
or study know that there is no necessity whatever
for postponemcnt of apportioament on account
Of any defect real or alleged. IN New-lOrk Citys
census. because il is always within the power Of
Congress to correct any arror which may be dis
covered
It may be worth while 70 recall one instance
in which Congress did exercise its prerogativc.
1t was the case of California. under the census Of
1850. On May %. 1850, President Taylor ap.
proved r law TO sppOrton Representatives accord
ing to the census TO he taken that year The
total number of Representatives was fixed at
233, and the Secretary of the Interior
authorized and directed TO make the apportion-
rnent on that basis. California not admitted
as State until the following September. and
would have been entitled to only one Representa-
tive had not Congress in July, 1872 passed and
President Fillmore approved an act increasing tie
total number of Representatives to 234, and
giving California the additional Representative
In that case the final returns of California
were not received in Washington until February
Il. 1872.
There is a general feeling here. even among
Democrats. that Apportonment law will he
enacted before March 3. 1891. despite the factious
oppC stion OF the minority. and tine Representatives
as we'll as the Senators from each State are busy
making figures and estimates as TO how the re-
apportionment will affect II. and IN laying the
foundation for arguments in favor of or against
an increase of the total membership Of the House
or Representatives. as the Interests Of their
respective States may seem 10 dictate. Oi course
the States in the West and Southwest, a. we'll as
the Pacific States. in all Of which there has been
large increase Of population within the last
decade demand. = they have clear night 20 de
mand, "a larscr share of power, both IN Congress
and In the Electoral College AZ the same time.
the older Nt0tes anxious that their representa-
ton In either body shall not be- decreased m num-
hers Whatever may he ~ relative dlnIlnution
IN power ss compared vith states winch are grow
ing more rapidly There ~ always a strong sufi'c.
current against any Iurrase oi the total mem
her>hip OF the HOUSE ot Representatives, ana ~
AWAY, becomes noisy whenever the suheci "t
.pportlunmcnt Il dis' 'lss' ot 'on'id'fed i' 'fs"-
liruts against lurlrr membership hic 700 u
militia, to require notice. especially in view ~ the
,u1ht impression which ihrN nave t"H' "a
iNc pIst Wuru i,u-rrsN hiN uti To u'f WIN W"
matter The probability thHt tlr House Mih re
msdr ntssr -~~m> foo boz a, -'r'n- no" - e,r,
has hc.n Iu fnr past. there i> no piohahihy
,,hatr.er that II N..l hr made smaller
" .,f ..lI f.I. total mrHhrrshlr De- Is ihe
ID ,l,s .rt.It. question nhl.. u0hudf scans Net
h,,.. .t.r' o. .n.vr. lIruu.r.fit newspapers
Inns, ..nfcuici flcm.ei c- with frantic shfeks
.nt a.i.i.ra IcnuuurIf. IH IutHncr Hn' Nrpni-
....u.r.t l.H nUI.. u. .f pfHpusei N' e We
.,.ll..f tuueft.. Is puI.e.n 1ni Nniu NOV
,t. .f nem I.- attempted 81. Show 0iN "i ''
,.f.l,,,. i urlsIfs which u might rrfiid n iaf
...d u... .p.ffI>iu o. iIt. tow. ~ Hni. "i ilfa
I.., .. .I...UtI tIc verified riHrue OFF p"pfh'i'h
n. ,i. fes which lprrtIfI Iu Washington i'f-
,.I.I oIrI.rcI ln lIr ifnunr thfr d''n 80
N, Democrat .o fl l, Is lHsNu haH HnAlNffi iHe
...f.... .I.d n.IIr fN. computations nfNre~ii' i'
.h.. I..t ta.n ~faIr HH.'I taIreu fls "nt.fH
.honIl lA fh, t.f.I mririrfsllp ui thr liog~ 1i
,pt .pr.INcd number 10 la ffNr fNHf 'H"hdHt
..,,. nixon has pHllr.. advocated t t1i1l ufnl#f
aim Uf $780, which les fhe plesenf uHuInff, hNL hf
l.,. net l.Isupi Eco explain how fhRf would t0f.f
fOe representation uf no S'afrs rnsperiffN
Tribune correspondent however Doe sea
hpa, during fhe lasf three da's nrd n nnw nne
b., sh.t fbe numisf ~ Representative 30 Wm'h
r,.l state Nnuld is eniited he ils 1uf QUO ~
.rtcf,I ratios should l~ sdHffsd lhe hsHifn ~
IL. t.9p1 of ,,.elsl iotefrsi ~ th.s nms Nrrofd
.n. to tne Ycll.r1 rciurns tHs tn.nl l"piffn.'-
l..r puuuaflon' of fhr Tinted 9fs'Fs n nl ''s
.Y. af lnrrefsr of hspVssuiHntr pnnn hilnh
,. ennnlfed vlIh IsAu. uf a. isi ihf ilf rt
....o. raf.a % p1pu nten o. ra.h irHei"niaN
Ittatf the fato boz ihe llld iHuffrt'i n the
.......t fltsi mruhefshin nf tlr iiHHsf shouii -
,,t.tr.l vouli hf itt.tiN, 1859 inrfsHfr ni a. ~
o.. ,,.l Representative fhe efr which sHfA
.t increase wnHid hnle upon ne fefsl STATES is
.,hihtra m tlr iu.nwins rHnilIN rfertW
', hs. witch pls1 inNi'sir' "hifh N'''fs F7HIa
,....l,c thr ienenf of f1fi'nfal ieples'n'aiiHaa
{ + III