Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-03-28

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, 1860.
a century old, its first session having been
held at New York in March, 1889. But for
nearly twenty-four years before that we
had continental congress and a colonial
congress.
The colonial congress met in New York
Oct. z, liGj and had only about twenty-five
members representing nine colonies. The
continental and confederation congresses
continued from l574 TO t1Ss, when, the con-
stitution having been ratified, the federal
congress superseded the latter The con
tinental congress had but forty-eight mem
bers all told, and Massachusetts, Bay, be
ing then the most populous colony, had
the greatest number of representatives
six-while little Delaware, which can now
muster but one congressman, had then
three members, aud the present Empire
state OF New York had only four. Now,
every reader Of this letter knows how the
old continental congress was beaten about
from pillar to post by thecNigcncies of those
troublous times. Il held sessions sue
cessively at Philadelphia, Baltimore, Phil
adelphia, Lancaster, York, Philadelphia,
Princeton and Annapolis
The first federal congress, which first met
at New York, on April4, 1889, had only sixty
five members representing the thirteen
original states Though Rhode Island came
in just before it ended, Virginia had the
greatest number OF representatives-1O-
PENNSYLVANIA and Massachusetts, s each
New York and Maryland each, the two
Caroliuas and Connecticut . each. This
was the representation provided by the
constitution. Under the census Of 1890
congress created a house of representatives
of id5 members, in which Virginia re-
tanned the largest number Of any OF the
fifteen states represented, Kentucky and
Vermont having been admitted to the
Union. 1t IS a curious fact that wherea,
the mother of presidents had 10 member,
Of congress in that decade, Pennsylvani,
- and Massachusetts "A, New York hal
only as many ~ North Carolina, or 10
Even Connecticut had within three of a
many representative. rs New York.
But in the following decade New Yorl
showed wonderful growth Under tn,
census Of 1900 two more states, Kentucky
and Tennessee, were brought into the fold
and though the ratio Of representation re
manned the same as under the previous
census-33, 900 population per member-tht
total number Of member was increased
from 105 to l4L Virginia still held the
lead at g, and Pennsylvania second place
with IS, but New York left North Carolina
behind and tied Massachusetts, for third
place with H.
IL was between 1900 and 1910 that New
York assumed first rank in the sisterhood
OF states. The census Of the latter year
gave her p representatives, while proud
Virginia fall to %, a tie with PENNSYLVANIA
for second place. Massachusetts, was
fourth with %, and North Carolina 9th
with l3 Under this census the ratio Of
representation was increased to 81, 1000
and the total number Of members was ls1,
one new state-Ohio -- having been adj
mitted.
Between 1910 and 1870 larger number
Of new states was admitted than in any
other decade in the history Of the country.
The great west was just beginning to TEEN
with hardy pioneer population, and In
diana, Illinois, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mis-
,ouri, Alabama and Maine came in, max.