The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-07
LEGISLATURES OF THE WORLD.
Differences I'm Apportfonment and
System of Representation.

New 1OTk sun.
The recently elected Italian Chamber OF
Deputies consists of 534 members. The
present German Reichstag consists of 3s3
members The next House OF Representa-
tives at Washington, exclusive OF Terri
torial delegates. will consist OF 35s mem
bers- The English Parliament consists OF
$50 members. including those elected in Ire
land and Scotland as well as those elected
In England. OF these members 465 are
chosen from English constituencies. 100
from Irish. z from Scotch. and 30 from
consists OF 62 members.
II appears from these figures thet al
representatives. is most popular in the
United States, the lower House of Com
gress is a smaller body than the popular
branch Of the Legislature of Great Britain.
Germany. France or Italy. The Beleian
Parliament, prior to the extension of uni
versal suffrage and the adoption OF the
members, the number varying according to
the number Of qualified electors in each dis
trict; Tn Hungarian House of Magnates
consists of 735 members. and the Hunear-
ian House Of Representatives OF 445 The
Dutcn Parliament is constructed on the
BASIS OF one deputy for every 5000 Of popu-
cantons In the National Council Is 135,
In the choice of representatives few
european governments conform with the
american plan OF selecting representative
on the basis of the number of voters only
In England, for instance, where the right
OF suffrage has been extended TO the point
A-AACo aAAAN z d. ~ II DAnnO0n E11T-
frage, as 1T is called in the United states.
nine university districts Continue IN have
representation as such, and the divisional
lines Of parliamentary districts are such
tnat the representation is UNEQUAL. being
largest proportionateiy in the country and
smallest in the urban districts. The basis
OF representation in the United States has
varied greatly from time TO time. The
ratio or representation per population was
ov'Vv under the first apportionmenf. IL
rose gradually under successive apporuon-
ments until 1913. when IL was put at O.OoO.
IN lSS IT jumped to 81, 200 and in lseS 10
lzl,vu From that figure il grew gradually
until lsS. wnen 1T was Isl. 600. The present
OASIS OF representation is materially higher
-lt5,yol. Congress fixes the number OF
members which each State shall have, but
tne subsequent subdivision, based on the
pIeceoing national census. is made by the
state Legislature. The rule OF equality OF
ulvislon Is not very well preserved, though
an EFFORT to follow IL is shown generally.
Inc First Congressional district OF Texas
mas a population OF 40, 900; the Second Con-
gressional district OF Texas has a popula-
ton OF z1o.000- That is a fragrant and ex-
c~eptional inequality. Nevada has a repre-
sentative In Congress for $1,000 inhabitants.
IN New York State the district having the
largest population is the Fourteenth, now
represented by Congressman Quigg. The
Fourth district of Pennsylvania, one OF the
strongest Republican districts OF the
country, had by the last census a popula-
tion OF 10000. Ohio had only one district
WIFE more than 10000 inhabitants. Twelve
or the thirteen districts of Massachusetts
ave 10000 population or a fraction more.