The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-10
An Interesting Question.


The question which has been raised by
Gen. B. F. Butler IS TO whether or not the
states which are given increased represen-
tatlon in congress by the apportionment
based upon the eleventh census are not en-
titled to have the additional representation
I in the present congress is an interesting one
and may receive a good deal Of attention in
The uear future. Ia ;he apportionment bill
it is provided that the additional represen-
tatives to ~ hich states are entitled shall be
elected to the Fifty-third congress.
No one seems 10 have thought pro-
vision ought to be made for giving these
states the additional representatives, to
which the census entities them, in the Fifty
second congress.
The number Of presidential electors that
have been elected is equal to that
Of the number of senators and
representatives that will be In the
Fifty-third congress. Can the states have
these additional electors in the electoral
college if they do not have the additional
congressman in this congress, and II they
cannot, what will be the effect Of having
more presidential electors than there are
sepators and representatives7
In discussing this point Mr.. Blaine is
quoted In the dispatches of the MORNING
News as expressing the following opinion
The constitution is perfectly clear on the
point that the total of the electoral college
should consist of an equal number to that
OF the total representation from all the
states in the Fifty-second congress. II does
not refer to some future congress 10 my
opinion. 1t un1uestiousbly refers to the
present or existing congress. IL must refer
to the congress that counts the votes, which,
OF course, is the present congress. l can
we'll see how this may become q very i'm
portant question within the next few days.
1t seems to me that the solution Of the ques-
ton is for the states given additional con-
gressmen to elect them TO this congress be-
before it expires. l don't see how
supposlng after election these additional
! congressman presented themselves, it is pos
sible to refuse them admission. To sum it
up, it is clear aud unquestionable to my
mind that the total in the electoral college
must be consistent with the total representa-
ton in the congress-"
1t is curious that this question was wholly
! overlooked by congress when it passed the
apportionment bill. The bill, however, is
simoIy a copy OF q previous apportionment
act. But the last apportioDment act was
passed much sooner after the taking Of tbs
census was ordered than was the case with
respect to previous apportionment acts, be-
cause the enumeration of the population
was completed much sooner, and that is the
reason probably that congress overlooked
the question as to whether the additional
congressman should be elected to the present
congress- or not.
The question is an interesting one, but it
is hardly probable that it will play any
part in the proceedings of the electoral
college. 1t will be examined closely, no
doubt, and if it Is found the states given
additional representation are entitled to
that representation in this congress, special
elections will be ordered. doubtless, to fill
the vacancies The increase in the number
Of representatives is tventy-four