New-York tribune., 1900-11-21
PLANS FOR REINFORCEMENT.
CHAIRMAN HOPKINS SUGGESTS A RATIO OF
ONE REPRESENTATIVE TO $4,000 PEOPLE.

Washington Nov 20 acknowledgements
Hopkins, OF Illinois, chairman OF the House Com
mttee Census arrived in this city to-day to at
tend a meeting Of the House Ways and Means
Committee, OF which he is also a member. Mr..
Hopkins announced that the Census Committee
would begin work at once a Reapportionment
bill, whose passage would be one of the necessary
duties OF the short session Mr.. Hopkins favors an
increase OF the ratio Of representation-now one
member to each 173.s0l inhabtants-to one member
TO each l9S.c0O which will entail net increase OF
about twenty members. In speaking of the ques-
ton he said:
The Committee on Census will meet during the
hrst week OF the session and will go to work at
once framing bill providing for reapportonment
Just what the details OF this bill will be cannot
nf G6 that be m at s m ms
Increase tho present membership of the House.
gress foq given ambeT of OF
rata basis will be decided upon which will be equi-
is member of the House for every 10 900 and a
af0n 6 ba OF t s That ngmbeT will have I'VE
creased population. Just what ratio will be de-
of the Census furnishes us authentic figures upon
which to base our calculations: 1t has been sug
for every 19s,Oo0 Inhabitants. That to be the
ratio that is in general favor among members OF
the committee This viii cause a decrease In men,
bershi2 In some sintes while the repr&esentSti9n &
bership Of from fifteen to twenty.
whether this proposition viii radically affect the
representation from States where certain classes
citizens are not allowed 10 vote There is project
on foot to make the amount OF representation pro-
portionate 10 the total number OF votes cast In
elections, instead OF the number OF inha abants. II
this idea were carried out some OF the Southern
States would no doubt suffer. In States where the
negroes and illlterate whites dsfranchised for
instance the representation would be materially de-
creased. This idea, predicatng the proportion of
representation upon the total Of votes cast will be
brought up in committee. but Just what will he
done with 1t IS uncertain. 1 am inclined to believe
however. that the committee will favor the idea OF
basing the rate CT representation upon the number
Of inhabitants.
According calculations I have made recently
the reapportioument proposition. basing the num-
habtants would add members the House from
New-York and Illinois. and perhaps other States
States like Nebraska and Maine might lose MEM
bers by the proposed law. That, however. would
designated for each membership. Some of the
Southern States. aside from the general PROPOSE
ton decrease their vote in the House on account
OF disfranchisement of certain classes of citi
Zens might also suffer from the proposition agreed
upon. although to what extent cannot now be ascer-
tanned.
cause little decrease In the membership of the
House possible while adding many more
new members seems just and equitable
ultimately to increase the total membership. The
have shown growth OF population, while those
States which have not kept the pace I'm enlarginS
their population will be obliged to stand the con-
sequences
AS for the proposition to decrease the Southern
representation. considered per Sc think there will
he some discussion of the subject during the COM
he no decisive action taken, this is a matter that
cannot reasonably be disposed of during a short
session. The subject OF reapportionment will offer
members opportunity 10 be heard the South
ern representation problem, but. of course, the
subjects are distinct. and no vote can be taken
upon it unless separate bill Is reported for action