The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-29
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The Congressional Apportionment.

ne congressional AppOrt1Onmenr.
with the publication of the statistics
OF population by the census bureau in
terest will be awakened in the congress
sional apportionment which is to be de-
termined by the next congress and re-
main in force during the coming decade
Under the apportionment made accord
ing to the census OF 1890 the house OF
representatives was given 1856 members,
to which one has been added by the
admission OF Utah. This apportionment
was based on a population OF 2,622, $50
for the entire country. and the ratio
adopted was one member of congress
for each district with 1739oi inhabit-
ants. This was an increase Of thirty
one members of congress over the APP
portionment OF the decade before, and
the ratio was made 1891 instead OF
15i.sf2. II Is said that this ratio was
selected in 1890 for the reason that IT
would leave Vermont. which had in
creased In population but four one
hundredths OF per cent. in a position
to claim two members OF congress.
The ratio OF 1890 was five times great
er than that established after the first
census OF 1880. and the one to be es-
tabiished will probably be six times
greater. Every ten years the total
membership OF the lower house Of con-
gress has been increased, but not In
keeping with the general growth in
population. Ii has been found neces-
sary 10 increase the congressional ratio
after each census but even under these
circumstances the house OF representa-
tives has after each apportionment be-
come more unwieldy than ever before.
The smaller and siowgrowing states
dislike 20 lose their representation and
are willing 10 make the house larger II
thereby the congressional ratio IL not
Increased so as 20 deprive one Of their
sitting members of his district and a
job. The West r. growing SO much
more rapidly than some parts OF the
East and South. however. that even
with an Increase IN the ratio some Of
the New England and possibly some OF
the southern states may be under the
necessity Of having their congressional
representation cut down. as was done
IN 1850.
II Is impossible to determine at this
time what ratio will be settled upon
for the next decade. but IL has been
thought IL would be about 800. 900 for
each congressional district. With a
total population OF 76.0oa Geo. that ratio
would al SIS congressional seats. With
out taking any new states into account
II is generally believed that the presen,
house Ia large enough. but for reasons
already stated the smaller states would
prefer 90 have large house rather than
lose their members % congress. and
the large house l. no, likely 20 BE- very
Objectionable 20 the newer states which
are anxious Tor more congressman.
Under the new apportionment few
Of the larger cities viii have larger con
sressionai DELEGATIONS in spite q an
increase - the ratio New York. which
now has hrieen congressman. VIII prsb-
ably have seventeen. Chicago now has
i've congressman. but under the rev
census Will probably have eight. IL in
its congressional districts are included
the outlying towns which are practI-
caily part 81 the city. Throushoat
the East generally IL IS believed that
the municipalities will gain more or
less In congressional influence at the
expense Of the country: but In the West
the contrary is Ike 20 prove true. Few
Of the cities of the farther West have
shown the phenomenal growth which