Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-12-18
THE FIRST BATTLE.
The Hopkins Re-apportionment
Bill Reported, 7 to 6.
But Maine and Her Friends Are Sat-
isfed With the Situation.
G,g. EurIeigh Blocks Move for 373 Members
Maine Must Have Four.

w dsHlHSl lOll, Lee. Ii.-tSpeCldD.-
The first drawn battle over the appor-
Itionment of representatives in Congress
regular meeting of the House COM
mttee on census and by vote OF
seven to six the committee decided ia
report the Hopkins bill, which provides
for 357 members and allows Maine but
three members after the 57th Congress
has expired.
Those who voted for the bill were:
Hopkins of Illinois; Babcock of Wis
consin; Acherson of Pennsylvania;
Brownlow Of Tennessee; Republicans,
and Kluttz of North Carolina; Ryan
Of New York; and Mcdowell Of Ohio:
Democrats.
Those who voted against the bill
were: Russell of Connecticut; Heat
wole of Minnesota; Crumpacker of In
diana; Burleigh of Maine; Griffith OF
Indiana; and Wilson of South Caro-
lima.
While outwardly the opponents of a
larger membership of the House have
won an advantage, the Maine men are
rejoiced at the outcome.
There was a clever trick on foot to
compromise and make the membership
373, which would have given Indiana
~, olJ
sofa a gain of two members, whereas
now Indiana loses one member and
Minnesota gains only one.
Gov. Burleighs bill to fix the repre-
sentation at 3S7 was first voted on and
defeated by the same vote as the ]. T.
Hopkins bill was carried.
Foreseeing the plan that was on foot
for compromise at 373. which would
allow Maine only three members and
have cemented a powerful combine be
tween several big states of the mid
West, Gov. Burleigh threw his vote
against the proposition for 1873 mem
bers and stood for either 357 or 3S7.
This stroke of policy, at which the
representatives from Indiana and Min
nesota were somewhat surprised and
which was carried out by Gov. Bur
leigh under express instructions from
the Maine delegation and the delega
Jions from Kansas and Nebraska, has
resulted in cementing all the forces not
satisfied with a membership of 351
against the bill.
The Indiana and Minnesota men. for
instance, who would have been tickled
over a bill for 373 members and who
would not then have cared a snap for
Maine, have pulled off their coats.
The six men who voted against the
Hopkins bill have already decided to
sign a minority report and all hands
are laying plans to combine forces to
defeat the Hopkins proposition.
GOV. Burleigh scored another ad-
which Senator Hale was e.
specially anxious to get. and that was
an agreement for postponement of
of the bill till after the
holidays.
Some powerful influences have been
set to work for the larger membership
and in the meantime the friends Of the
Burleigh bill believe they will be able
to get better position for further bat
tie.
The Maine representatives and SEN
ators have been working with might
and main to bring about increased
in the House and to
preserve the four seats for the Pine
Tree State.
Senator Hale has been assisting ear
aestly in engineering the fight. and
Senator Frye has his coat off also
like Trojan.
They are both welding a powerful
influence on persons who have hand
IN nolding the situation
The aid Of other prominent senators
$ also assured
This evening, there was further con-
and three Indiana members,
2hagrined that they had played their
game and lost at critical stage. came
lumbly back into the camp. much to
he amusement of Senator Frye.
The Maine senator's think the fight
: in better shape now than at any
ime previously
The prospects are regarded rs excel
ent for beating the ring Of House Re
,ublicans who want to keep the House
Town to its present membership.