Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-28
The Problem Of Rear portionment.
philadelphia InquirerO

u hlidttii'Iiid iilIuiici.t
We were not mistaken in supposing
that the plan of re2pportionment
which-by the majority of a single vote
was favorably reported by the House
committee on census would encounter
a vigorous opposition. This plan fixes
the ratio of representation at EOS, sos
the reason for the adoption of this fig
'urc being that an enlargement of the
membership of the House would thus
be avoided. There are reasons why
that is desirable but there are no
reasons why it should lie regarded as
so desirable as to render it an abso-
iutely controlling consideration.
/ 1t is said that the hall of the House
'of Representatives is so small that il
is already uncomfortably crowded and
that it would be difficult to make room
Tor any more members. But surely it
viii not be seriously maintained that
the number of representatives whom
the American people shall send TO the
popular branch of Congress shall be
determined by the seating capac of
he room in which they assemble. TO.
state that proposition is to refute it.
for its ridiculous character becomes at
oIi'C ePl'ai4 tilAs a mutt WIS NY al p IL
ment is made By those who contend
that the capacity of a Legislative body
for the dispatch of business decreases
in proportion to its numerical magni-
tude.
So it does. and n body half the size
of the present House would be more
efficient. But some sacrifice must be-
made to the principle Of popular rep
resentation and there Is no reason to
suppose that I, moderate increase in
the membership Of the House would
appreCiably interfere with the dis
charge of its duties What Is mod
crate increase? The second Of the
plans most generally discussed places
the ratio at 1871 1871. With this figure
rs basis the membership of the
House would re raised to 81. That
increase is less than moderate. 1t is
small, yet 1t would do vc"y we'll but
for the fact that it's adoption would
deprive each Of a member the four
states Of Kansas, Maine, Nebraska.
and Virginia.
Nov il will be admitted that ii IS
not desirable that the membership Of
any state should be reduced and il Is
less desirable as regards those named
because as their delegation is already
small any reduction means 4 great
proportional loss. Thus, Maine only
elects four members. She loses q
fourth of her representation IL she is
to be allowed only three. The third
plan under discussion places the ratio
at 1866. which would elect House
of 3S7 members. Is.Lhis increase. an in
Of,
moderate? We don't think SO. It
would leave the House of Representa-
tives much smaller body than any
| other Legislature of corresponding I'M
portanCc. There are over six hundred
members in the British House of Com
mons and nearly as many in the
French Chamber Of Deputies and no
| one has yet proposed the reduction of
either body.
We doI't believe that House Of
| Representatives of 287 members would
| h. appreciahly moro urWieldy than the
| present one ana we arc not SURPRISED
| that there should hc a growing senti-
ment in favor Of the ratio yielding tina
| result a ratio which The inquirer was
the first to advocate. It's strong re-
communication is that under its oper-
| alton only on" state, the state of Ne
! hraska. would suffer loss while some.
| including Pennsylvania, would gain
| materially. The more the question is
| discussed the more sentiment is said
| to be rystallzing in favor of this plan
| and We are inclined to think that it
| has more chance Of acceptance than
either of the others.
Cutting down the REPRESENT alton of n
| state looks too much like going back
| wards to be welcome even to those
who are not directly affected. We
doubt very much if it will be done.