Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-20
MAY MAKE
A CHANGE
Result of the Census Will
Require New Congress
sional s lcts.
IT AFFECTS, ags SIXTH
This district Has Nc sh People
by 2s,ooo.-Des Nj 3 cheme TO
Fix Defleit.-Fifth ct Also
Short.

. > = 3 y
Des Moines, Nov. 19-The state
of Iowa may have new congressional
districts after the next session of
congress. So much is proven by the
announcement of the census of the
state by counties. So great are the
differences in population between the
districts that even the most conserva-
tive declare that it will be necessary
to redistrict. Accordig to Iowa's pop
ulation as compared with the popuia
ton of the United States the state
will retain her eleven congressman.
According to the population of the
United States the apportionment will
be one representative for each 200,-
900 or thereabouts. The present ap-
portionment is one representative for
each 173,901. Dividing Iowa's popula-
tion of 1921, ,S53 by eleven gives an
average Of 2O2,sse to each district.
But two of the present congression-
al districts approach anything like
this figure, the eighth and the ninth
both having the average population al
most exactly. The seventh is short
less than one county, and no change
is necessary. The tenth and eleventh
district together have an aggregate
Df more than 100000 more than they
are entitled to under the apportion-
ment on the average basis. The third
district overruns about one county.
The fifth district is short $4,000,
while the sixth has too few people by
$4,000. The second, fourth. fifth and
seventh districts are short less than
10000 each.
Change May Be General.
The change in districts may be gem
eral all over the state. In fact, it may
be found that 1t is impossible to make
anything like an equitable apportion-
ment and try to follow out the lines of
the present districts.
It has been suggested that part of
the territory now, in the northern part
OF the tenth, with possibly Clay and
Dickinson, be made into a new fourth
district, and that the fourth be merged
into the third along the river, and the
western part of the third be given over
to the sixth and afth. The southern
part of what is now the sixth would
then be merged into the first, while the
second could absorb one or two coun-
ties of the fifth or sixth.
A new fourth district to consist of
the counties of Clay, Dickinson, EN-
NETT, Palo Alto, Humboldt, Wright,
Kossuth. Winnebago, Hancock, Worth,
Cerro Gordo, Floyd and Mitchell coun-
ties would have about the average pop
ulation and would include the present
representative from the fourth.
This would leave Howard, Chicka-
saw, Winneshiek, Fayette, Allamakee
and Clayton to be added to perhaps
Dubuque, Delaware and Buchanan
counties of the third district.
This would mean practically the re.
organization of the fifth am sixth dis
tricts, with additional counties from
these going to the first and second
The tenth district to make up the def
cit in population caused by the change
from the north could then swing east
and include perhaps Hardin and Frank
lin. The seventh district will remain
practically unchanged,wh the eighth
and ninth are of about the right size
Politics in the Deal.
Politics will also be considered il
the change. With Iowa's representa-
tives all republican and every distlic
: with perhaps two exceptions, saicl.
that way the reapportionment will mo-
be made in such a way rs to Civ;
any district to the democrats.
A re-apportionment law passed b,
the next congress would be effective
in 1903, or at the time repres entatives
elected at the next general election
would take their seats.
Poulatlon by Districts.
The following tables give the popl
lation of the different congressional
districts of the state according to Ih,
4 census Of 1900, which has recent,
& been announced
First district, 164,755; second dis
trict, 191,60S; third district, 219 ,S15
fourth district, $3.50; fifth distric,
190.657;s sixth district, T4,673; ,sey
enth district, 191, ,0S6; eighth district
200,432; ninth district, 202,254; tent
district, 259,177; eleventh ditrict
/ 24l,91S.
Drake Trustee Dead.
Des Moines, Nov. 19.R 3. Jane