New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
Tits ON APPORTION.MENT.
MESSRS LITTLEFIELD AND HOPKINS
EXCHANGE SHARP WORDS.
DIsFRANcHsEMpNT IN THE SOUTH AGAIN
DISCUSSED.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuvE.l

rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUTE.l
Washington. Jan. 5.-Dinerences over the merits
OF the Hopkins and Burleigh schemes OF reappor-
tionment led to-day 10 some lively passages at
arms in the House OF Representatives between Mr..
Hopkins. the chairman OF the Census Committee.
and Mr.. Littlefield. OF Maine. The latter was put
forward by the advocates OF larger House 10
reply TO the Illinois members argument yesterday
IN favor of retaining the present limit OF member
ship-S57. Mr. Litteheld made n notable reputation
last winter by the vigor with which he attacked the
Roberts exclusion resolution and the original House
bill defining the political status OF the island of
Porto Rico. His speech to-day even more
pointed and personal than the two which carried
him into prominence in the House last winter, and
the severity Of his assaults the Hopkins bill
and its author and sponsor drew from the latter
number OF angry retorts and contradictions.
Mr Littlefeld's general argument directed
toward demoshing Mr.. Hopkins's contention that
IN the epportonment all other considerations
should be sacrificed 10 keeping down the size of the
House and toward establishing the contention that
each decade had and should moderate
growth OF membership in the popular branch In
terest in the debate has been greatly quickened.
and the advocates OF the two rival schemes OF ap-
portionment seem now to be about equally matched
IN strength The Hopkins bill has lost ground
notceably. however. in the last few days. Mr..
Littefied declared that the Hopkins bill could
properly be entitled IAN act cripple the State of
Maine in her representation in the House and in
the Electoral College" He resented what he
termed Mr. Hopkins's assault the State of Maine.
That statement drew from Mr.. Hopkins in
dignant denial.
Mr. Littleield sarcastically called Mr.. Hopkinss
attention to the men who, like Lovejoy and Fuller,
had gone to Illinois to give distinction to that
State Yet" said he. "the gentleman's speech
yesterday saturated with a pettfogging as
sault upon Maine"
"If there is any member of this House who is
expert pettifogging it is the gentleman from
Maine" retorted Mr. Hopkins.
1.-THE Maine replied Little
field. never defended criminal, but he has prose-
cuted several and he is prosecuting one now"
daughter and applause)
THAT is just the sort of remark i should have ex-
pected from the gentleman. judging by his previous
course upon this foor." answered Mr.. Hopkins.
After a sharper exchange than usual the Chair
was obliged TO call both members to order and 10
call attention 10 the rule which provides that the
member the floor must not be interrupted with
out his consent and also TO the rule that members
must not address each other in the second person.
1.-The gentleman has already interrupted me about
twenty-five times in violation of the rule observed
Mr.. Lttlefeld
"And the gentleman from Maine has violated the
rule with reference 10 the second person about
fifty times" exclaimed Mr. Hopkins.
''The gentleman is becoming exceedingly tech
nical and sensitive" retorted Mr. Littlefeld. IL
will refer him later in the third person. and later
still I anticipate that he will have shrunk sufii-
cently to permit me to refer to him in the fourth
or fifth person. and perhaps in the end can elm
Proceeding Mr. Lttieheld argued that the Con-
sttution in providing for decennial apporonment;
contemplated an increase of the membership until
the House should become unwieldy. The increase
was necessary to keep pace with the growth OF
population Sixty wears ago. he said, when the
membership was only $50. the arguments were
made against increase of the membership which
heard now.
SOUTHERN ELECTION METHODS
The other speakers were Messrs. shattuc CRep..
Ohio), Klutz CDem., N. c., Fox Dem. Mss0'
Sutherland Pop., Neb), Linney (Rep., ~ c.. Ohm
sted Rep., PENN and Miers Oem.. Ind.).
Mr.. Shattuc insisted that in making the reappor-
tionment the representation should be reduced in
all the States where the right TO vote is abridged
He asserted that ten States abridged the suffrage
average of % per cent. They were California,
~ per cent Connecticut, 53: Delaware. H3; Lousi-'
ana ASS; Maine 55; Massachusetts, 62; Mississippi,
40; North Carolina, 35.l; South Carolina, 45, and
Wyoming. "a. -, c.,
States, especially defending the action or Misss-
MIR Kinney argued that under their oaths to sup
port the Constitution members In voting on reap
portionment must take cognzance Of the abridge-
ment OF suffrage in the Southern States. He gave
An entertaining description OF Democratic election
methods in North Carolina, denouncing the Demo-
Gratis mercessly for their action. He was espe-
caIly severe his condemnation OF their course In
ca ling the Legislature together last summer 10
pass q law prevent the issue of Writs OF man.
damus.