The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-11
OPPOSED TO REDUCTION.
n Movement in the House Against
the CrumpncISer Bill. :

Movement in the House Against
the CrumpncISer BiiI.
There is movement under way in the
House of Representatives which promises
to attract general attention. 1t relates
TO the reapportionment OF Representatives
from the different States. The Crum-
packer bill introduced in the House a few
days ago. making an apportionment under
| the Twelfth Census is the storm centre.
II 1t were to become law several South
crn and Western States would lose from
one to four Representatives each The
prospect of such legislation has stimu-
lated Representatives from all the States
that would besafected injuriously to form
combination
1t is not alone the prospect Of the en-
actment of the CrUmpacker bill that
| alarms them. The House Select Commit
tee on Census, Of which Mr.. Hopkins of
Illinois is Chairman, is believed to favor
an apportionment on the basis of one
Representative to every 26S, eco and frac-
tion inhabitants. This plan would not
swell the membership materially, but the
disadvantage of some of the States.
While the Crumpacker bill provides for
only eight more Representatives than the
existing apportionment supplies it makes
marked reductions in the South and West,
those pertaining to the former section be-
ing particularly radical. For instance,
Florida. which now has three Represents
To T ;g;a ie.r
duced from six to four; Mississippi suffers
reduction from seven to four; North
Carolina drops from nine to five. South
Carolina loses three Arkansas is given
seven instead Of six, its present number.
The Kansas and Nebraska delegations
were the first to Try to head of the pro-
posed legislation. Kansas now has eight
members of the House. The Crumpacker
bill cuts off one of these. 1t also reduces
the Nebraska representation to five, loss
of one Prominent members OF these two
delegations met at the Capitol yesterday
afternon to see il some plan could not be
decided upon that would permit their
States to escape without the loss of
member They discussed the provisions
OF the Cr,impacker bill and compared it
with the proposed plan Of the Census Com
nittee, and decided that neither would do.
figured that IL the ratio were made 1g4, COO
and a major fraction it would prevent loss
representation by any State and make
the membership of the House 3S7, an in
crease Of 80. The caucus decided that this
was the best plan yet presented. and the
Representatives most interested Will do
their utmost To advance it. 1t is likely
that in few days bill embodying ii
will be PRESENTED to tine House. -
rrrf.z
venting Tie enactment of the Crumpacker
or any similar bill naturally rely upon the
aid Of Democrats from the Southern States
that are threatened, with, loss Of repre- 1
sentation IN the Congress. They assume
that these gentlemen will be glad to enter
into a compact to obstruct such legisla-
tion. the number OF votes cast in the Con-
gressional delegations Affected injuriously
by the Crumracker bin Is but 56. not
very substantial nucleus in the event that
the delegations from New York, Pennsyl-
vania. Illinois. Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Missouri, New Jersey, Texas. Washington.
and West Virginia. all of which are in
creased by the bill should decide not to
interfere.
AT the caucus yesterday the statemen.
was made that the President only the
other day told a Representative from
Virginia that he was unqualitedly opposed
to the idea of reducing the Southern dele
cations This was hailed as 4 most hope
ful sign. and 1t will be employed by the
men who have undertaken to save the
status of their respective States.
In this connection it is interesting to
know that in 1893, when the last appOr-
of Representatives took place, |
the membership was increased from 325 |
to 356. Utah. with one Representative, |
has since been admitted. There were no
reductions in any State delegation. llliT |
nois, Minnesota. Pennsylvania, South Da- |
kota. Texas. and Washington were each |
given two additional Representatives, and |
Nebraska was given three. Alabama, |
Arkansas, Colorado. California, Georgia. |
Idaho. Kansas. Massachusetts. Michigan. |
Missouri. Montana, New Jersey. North |
Dakota, Oregon. Wisconsin and Wyoming |
each received an additional Representa-
tive. The ratio of population fer each |
established then was 113901.