The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-18
VOTED FOR HOPKINS BILL
Committee Divided by Majority of
One Over AppOrtiOnment.
seven Members Voted TO keer the iiem-
bersbip mt 357, az Now, aud a Meas
Hre In Favor of that Will BE
RepOrted-Fight Assured.

The first drawn battle over apportion.
ment of Representa- lives in Congress for
the next decade occurred yesterday after
noon al meeting of the House Commit
tee On Census. By vote of seven TO six
the committee decided to report the Hop
kins bill, which provides for 357. members.
and allows Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Maine. Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina.
ana Virginia one less member each after
the F1fty-seventh Congress has expired.
Those who voted for the bill were Hop
kInS, OF Illinois; BabcOck, of Wisconsin
Acheson, of Pennsylvania; BrownIow, of
Tennessee (Republicans); and Kluttz, of
North Carolina; Ryan, of New York, and
Mcdowell, OF Ohio CDemocrats). Those
who voted against the bill were Russell,
of Connecticut; Heatwole, of Minnesota
Crumpacker, of Indiana: Burleigh, of
Maine; Griffith, of Indiana, and Wilson,
of South Carolina.
While outwardly the opponents of a
larger membership of the House have
won an advantage. the advocates of
larger membership are not disheartened.
There was plan on foot to compromise
and make the membership 373. which
would have given Indiana her present
number and allowed Minnesota o. gain of
two members, whereas, under the Hop
kins bill, Indiana loses enc member and
Minnesota gains only one. Gov. Bur-
lCigh's bill to fix the representation at SS1
was first voted on and defeated by the
same vote as that by which the Hopkins
bill was carried. Foreseeing the plan
that was on foot for compremiss at S73,
which would allow Maine only three
members and have cemented a combine
between several big States of the Middle
West Gov Burleigh, following express
instructions from the Kansas. Nebraska,
and Maine Republicans in the House.
threw has vote against the proposal for
S73 members and stood squarely for 3Si.
From the standpoint of the four States
that would first lose one member each II
case of a refusal TO increase the member
ship. Virginia, Maine, Kansas, and Ne
braska. Yesterdays vote is regarded as
something of a victory, The result has
been that all are now combining TO beat
the Hopkins bill on the floor, whereas a
compromise measure would have practl-
cally left the four States mentioned out In
the cold, with little hope of Fronting from
a fight on the floor. 1t was agreed last
night that the six members or the census
Committee who voted against the Hop
kins bill should join in minority report,
and the various State delegations inter-
ested both TO prevent losing a member
and in gaining one or more members, VIII
rally their forces 10 ascertain WnetheT
they can amend the bill in the House.
In was decided by the committee to give
a few DAYS for the preparation OF the re-
ports, which makes il altogether probable
that the bill VIII not be taken up till after
the holiday recess. -,
The only change IN the Hopkins bill
vas an amendment requiring that the sew
e:aI Congressional districts of the several
States should be composed OF "contigu-
/ Gus and compact" territory. The purpose
l OF the amendment Is TO prevent gerry
Wandering. The following States will gain
| one member each under the bill: Illinois,
| Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New
| York, and West Virginia. Texas will
/ gain two Representatives.
/ Based upon present political divisions.
neither pa-ty will gain advantage from
/ the new rsappOStionment proposed In the
| bill The Republicans will gain five ard
| lose five and the Democrats will gam
| three and lose three. The basis OF rep
| resentation will be one representative for
| each 2O8 S6S inhabitants.