Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-21
new EWAPPORTIONMENT
Plan to Reduce Representation in
Southern States.
CENSUS STATISTICS TO Be COMPILED
A Difference of Opinion Among
Repub'icanLeaders.
MIR. CRUMPACKER'S BILL

The first step in the direction of carrying
out the idea long entertained by prominent
republicans of reducing the representation
of some of the southern states in Congress
has been taken. Representative Crum-
packer of Indiana member of the census
committee, has introduced Il bill requiring
the director of the census to compile statis-
tics to be used by the census committee In
preparing the next reapportionment bill
These statistics would show the election
laws of the stateS in question, so far as
they affect the disqualification of voters:
also the number of white and coored voters
in each state, with the number of votes
actually cast in 1896 and 1888
The plan of reapportionment contemplates
reducing the congressional representation
of the states in some kind of proportion to
the number of votes cast if the figures
show that voters are disqualified and pre-
vented from exercising the right of fran
chiSe
A Difference of Opinion.
Chairman Hopkins Of the census commit
tee is avowedly in favor of the plan, and it
is also indorsed by some of the republican
campaign managers who have practical
knowledge of conditions in the south.
On the other hand. some republicans balk
at the proposition. They say that it will
be bad politics to do anything at this time
to ALLEVIATE the influential faction of gold
democrats, eNpaEsionists and protection
democrats in the border states and indus
trial southern states who now evidence a
leaning toward the republican party. They
fear that if MIR. Crumpacker's plan prevails
these men will be driven back into the
democratic organization, swallowing free
silver, free trade and anything else
alternative to losing representation in the
House.
The republican managers. however. are
very much in earnest. ana it is certain that
the proposition will be brought up for con-
sideration, if 1t gets no further than re-
publican caucus
MIR. Crumpncker's Bill.
Mr. Crumpackers bill in fuE is as fol-
lows:
That the director of the census shall
compile, in convenient form, the election
and registration laws of the several states
in so far as they affect the qualification of
voters, and he shall collect statistics show
ing the number Of registered voters, white
and colored, respectively, In each state,
and the number of votes actually cast at
the presidential and congressional elections
in 1876 and the regular congressional cleo
tlons in 1898 in each state. He shall also
cause to be prepared from the population
schedules made in taking the twelfth CEN
Sus tabulated statement showing re-
specuvely, the number of white and colored
male citizens in each state over the age of
tWenty-one years, together with the num-
Der of illiterates in each class Such COM
pllatlon, statistical information and tabu-
iatlon shall be completed and submitted to
congress on or before the fifteenth day of
December 1900. The director of the census
Is hereby authorized to appoint and en-
ploy such additional special agents and
clerks at the compensation now fixed by
law as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes Of this act