The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-08-07
AS TO THE NUMBER OF CON


One of the most important question S
that will be brought up by the census
enumeration is that of Te-apportion-
ment of representatives of The states in
the lower branch of Congress. If the
population proves as large us estimated,
either the basis of apportionment will
have to be raised or the number of repre-
sentatives increased. One congressman
is now accorded approximately to each
group of 151 ,912 inhabitants. The popu-
latiOn of 1880, on which the present ap-
portionment was based, gave 325 men,
bers to the House. Ii that basis is main
tanned under the new enume ration, the
number CT representatives will be in
creased to about 427 and to this number
must be added at least six frou the six
new states.
On the other hand, if the present men,
bership of the House be deemed large
enough, the basis of apportionnent must
be advanced from 151, 900 to 100000 in
habitants. In that case Massachusetts,,
with population of not much over g.
100000, would lose two congressman,
Connecticut's representation would be
reduced from four to three, Vermont's
and Rhode Islands from two to one, New
Hampshire's probably the same and
Names from four to three. In short,
New England's delegation in the House
would be reduced from 26 to 10 or at
most 20. The other eastern states would
doubtless suffer in the same way to some
degree; while the western states would
gain in corresponding proportion.
1t is easy to see, therefore, that the
proposition to keep the membership of
sisted by the losing states. 1t always has
been SO. Every 10 years since the foun-
dation of the government this same CUES
ton has come up and been settled, with
one or two exceptions, in favor Of such
an increase of membership as would save
to most of the older states their existing
III UlIC 1louSC. L1lti
it is to be feared that the question of a
new apportionment will be decided in the
same way. None of the y congressman
from Massachusetts will probably favor
limiting the number OF public places to
be filled in Massachusetts,, although they
must recognize that the states relative
strength in the House will not be reduced,
whether the representation remains the
same while that of other states is greatly
increased, or is reduced to 10 while that
of other states is only slightly increased
But it is becoming very serious ques-
ton whether the House of Representa-
tives is not all already too large. Senator
Hoar considered it too large at the time
of the last apportionment, and stoutly
resisted the efforts of the politicians to
increase the number to save their old
quota of seats. He pointed to the grow
ing evil of committee and clique control
of the House and legislation, and the
practical gagging of large majority of
the representatives in consequence. He
ascrlbed 1t all to the numerical over
growth of the body. And rightly, with
out doubt. Most of the popular branches
of European countries have member
ship as high as 600 or more, but it is well
known that three-fourths or four-ffths
of the members are in fact crowded out
of all participation in the proceedings
beyond voting. AS membership increases
beyond a certain point the control of af-
fairs rapidly passes into the hands of the
few, and the greater the increase the
fewer will be the number of those who
will drive the wheels of legislation.
The alarming Capitalization of power
in the present House would seem to
show that the membership is already too
large, and should rather be reduced than
increased. To add to the number will be
to add to the power of the gag that has
been for some years and is being applied
to the large majority of members by a
controlling clique of speaker and leading
committee chairmen. If the representa-
tive character of the body is to be pre-
served, it will not do to increase the
membership under the coming appor-
tionment.- Springfield Republican.