The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-09
The RurIe5gh Reapportlonment Bin.


Considered as a Republican measure,
the Burleigh ReappoTtionnent bill PISS d
in the House OF Representatives yester-
day, almost disarms criticism, because OF
the absence of partisan vlndictiyeness or
any attempt at a gerrymander from its
text or intention The measure appears
to have been framed with an earnest de
sire to do equal justice to all sections and
States. without regard TO their political
complexion, and the gains Of membership
snder II are distributed equitably, as far
as We can see. 1t speaks well for the con
sentative spirit Of at least a minority OF
the Republican majority in the House,
that it should have joined with the Demo-
Gratis IN adopting a bill presented by a
minority of the Census Committee. in
stead OF the comparatively Objectionable
one reported by Chairman Hopkins on the
part OF the majority. As for the Olms, ed
and Crumpaeker propositions, they have
been discussed before in these columns,
and need not further engage our atten-
ton.
Under the Burieigh bill. if accepted by
the Senate, as no doubt it VIII be prompt
resentatives viii be composed of three
hundred and eighty-six members The
changes in State representation are con
fined 70 gains OF one member each for
Arkansas. California, Colorado. Connecti-
cut. Florida. Louisiana Massachusetts.
Mississippi. Missouri. North Carolina.
North Dakota. Washington, West Virginia.
and Wisconsin; Two members each for
Minnesota, Aew Jersey and Pennsylvania.
and three each for Illinois. New York
and Texas.
While the bill as we haze soia 10 fepi1
and equitable, in The interests of sound
legislation it is TO be regretted that a
basis Of representation could not have
been agreed upon, which would avoid the
expansion Of a membership in the popular
branch of Congress already too large and
Unwieldy for the proper transaction OF
business. Although We do not agree with
Mr.. Hopkins in other respects in the con-
nection, we do in his supper eff Alexander
Hamilton's proposition, that the larger
the number Of Representatives the smaller
will be the number OF men who will con
troll and direct the proceedings of the
House Against this view, in the debate
yesterday the opinion OF ex-Speaker
Reed, stated IN recent magazine arti-
Gle. vas quoted. II is that the popular
branch o. the legislative department of
the Government must be large and in
crease with the growth Of the Nation.
Mr.. Reed, no doubt recognizes the axio-
matte nature Of Hamilton's opinion. and
from experience favors the large and IN
f-ag- cd Of
count of the facilities il offers for the sup
press: OF the body as a deIiberauve as
sembIy, and for its subiugatIon and con
troi y a small syndicate Of majority lead
ers. as vas the case in his time. and is to
day. except that the master mind and iron
hand Of the late autocrat is missing.
Inasmuch as the RepJ blican party IS II
fun power IN the House, and Will be for
two years 10 come, the increase in mem
bershiD proposed in the BurIeign bill VIII
be favorable 10 The perpetuation Of the
system Of government now in vogue. By
committees. themselves restrained BY and
subject 10 the grand Committee on Rules
But that feature OF the matter is hardly
worth comment in the presence Of more
important considerations Some time or
other, we presume, a limit TO membership
VIII be reached II ex-Sreaker Reeds
idea. that the House should keep on grow
ing with the growth Of population we're &c
be carried out, there are people now liY-
ing who probably might during the next
fifty or sixty years sit in ths gallery and
be edlGed by The spectacle Of six or seven
hundred members getting in one another's
y ay while forty or fifty small committees
attended 10 legislation in as many outside
rooms.