The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-01-10
AT asllingtOn.

Inc Congressional apportlonment bill
was the great object Of interest il tho
House, Saturday.
Mr.. Littlefield of Maine followed Mr..
Burleigh of Maine, a member of the
census committee, In behalf of the min
GRITTY reported his bill and made an ex
tended and forceful argument in its ad-
vocacy. His argument was in favor of
the Burleigh bill. That bill provided
sor House of $50 members. MIR. Lit
tlefield said the Hopkins bill could
properly be entitled an tact to cripple
the State of Maine in her representation
in the House and in the electoral col
lege."
He resented what he termed Mr.. Hop
kins' assault" on the State of Maine
That statement drew from Mr.. Hopkins
an indignant denial which led to sharp
exchange between the two members,
Mr.. Lttlefeld enthusiastically called
Mr.. Hopkins attention to the mem who
j like Loyejoy and Fuller, had gone to
Illinois to give distinction to that state.
yet" said he, 1.-THE gentlemen's speech
Friday was saturated with pettyfog-
gng assault upon me-"
s.If there is any member of this House
who is an expert on pettyfogging, it is
the gentleman from Maine," replied
Hopkins.
1.-THE gentleman from Maine," replied
Mr.. Littlefeld, "never defended a Grim
inal but he has prosecuted several and
he is prosecuting one now" daughter
and applause.) L..
"That is just tie sort of remark
should have expected from the gentle.
man, judging by his previous course
upon this floor" answered Mr.. Hopkins
Mr.. Littlefield then settled down to
his argument. During 1t all he was
yitrolic in his sarcasm and most of it
was thrown in the direction of Mr.. Hop
kins The latter frequently was stung
into reply and the two had several sharp
tiffs. The position of the minority was,
Mr.. Littlefield said, that nc. State should
lose representation under the new ap.
| portionment.
The confusion increased and Mr.. Dali
zell warned both men that Interruptions
must be addressed through the chair
and that the third person must be used.
| 81 will refer to the gentleman in the
third person." said Mr.. Littlefield, meek
| ly 81 have spoken of him in the
second person, by and by may be able
to speak of him in the fourth or fifth
and ultimately l hope to eliminate him
from the argument altogether"
1t was the best retort heard In the
House since Tom Reed was a minority
| leader
For five hours, Friday, the Senate dis
cussed the army reorganization bill
The debate took a wide range at times,
but was confined principally TO the ques
ton of the necessity for the increase in
the regular army provided in the pend
ing measure.
The Philippine question was threshed
over at great length. Mr.. Hoar adyanc.
ed proposition 10 create a commission,
to be composed of all shades of political
opinion, to investigate the entire Fill
Pine question and report its findings to
Congress.
By vote of 165 to 102, the House,
Tuesday, accepted the re-apportionment
plan proposed by the Burleigh bill,
which increases the membership of the
House during the next decade from 357,
the present membership and the mem.
bership proposed by the committee or
Hopkins bill to 1856
Under the bill as passed no State loses
a representative and the following make
gains: Illinois, New York and Texas,
three each: Minnesota, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, two each; ana Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Mas.
sachusetts, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri,
North Carolina, North Dakota, " ash.
ington, West Virginia and Wisconsin,
one each. Maine Congressman have had
the laboring oar in this sharp fight and
have nobly performed their duties and
saved the State its representation of
four.
Wednesday the Senate concurred in
passing the House bill relative to the
army canteen. Only 10 votes could be
mustered in favor of the canteen. The
re apportionment bill was received from
the House and referred to the committee
on census.
Wednesday in the House was devoted
to discussion of the river and harbor bill.