The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-04

The current number of the Forum con-
tains an article entitled, 1.-The New Con-
gressional Apportionment." by Henry Can
nett, chief geographer of the Geological
Survey, which contains some interesting
facts regarding the apportionment of rep
resentatives among the States, now prac
tically under consideration in the House.
The number OF members in the present
House is 357. A bare majority of the COM
mittee on apportionment in the House
would retain the present number and make
e. ratio upon that basis. If this should be
done several States (which have dsfran-
chised some of their voters would have
the same representation and one would
gain. On the other hand, several States
would lose a member. Indiana being one
of them. On basis of one member to
194,346 inhabitants no State would lose a
member but Arkansas, California, Colo
RADIO, Connecticut, Florida. Iowa, Louis
lana, Massachusetts. Mississippi. Missouri,
North Carolina, North Dakota. Washing
ton, West Virginia and Wisconsin would
each gain one; Illinois, New York and
sofa and Pennsylvania two each. The total
number of members under such an appor-
tionment would be SS7, or thirty more than
the membership of the present House. This
is the Burleigh substitute for the Hopkins
bill.
How slight change it takes In the basis
to change the representation appears when
10000 is made the basis instead of 1896.
Upon the basis of 100000 Maine, Nebraska.
Kansas and Virginia would lose a men,
ber-four States. while Massachusetts.
Connecticut, New Jersey. West Virginia,
North Dakota, Washington, Florida,
Mississippi Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas
and Colorado would gain one member each.
and New York. Pennsylvania, Illinois.
Minnesota and Texas two each. That is.
two States which have DISTINGUISHED more
than a third OF their population will gain
a member each, while three full-vote States
will lose one each. The number of mem
bers the House would contain on this ratio
would be $50. or eighteen more than the
present.
The writer referred to brings out some
interesting facts upon the assumption that
the fourteenth amendment to the Constitu-
ton should be complied with and aliens
should be excluded from the basis of repre-
sentation. Upon such an exclusion. with
q basis of 100000. California would lose
member, Louisiana two members, Massa-
chusetts one, Michigan one. Mississippi
three. North Carolina three, Ohio enc and
South Carolina two. New York. instead of
gaining three members and Pennsylvania
two would simply hold their own. In the
Northern States the loss by exclusion
would come from foreign population and
an educational qualification in Massa-
chusetts. The only States that would gain
would be Colorado. Florida, Illinois, Mime
Sofa New Jersey. Texas and West Vir-
ginia The total number OF members in a
House thus apportioned would be 3iS. There
is every reason why the exclusions should
be made Those States which have dis
franchIsed voters should be treated con-
stitutionally. while there is no good rea-
son why a population OF aliens should be
represented TO the exclusion of citizens
Under the unfair basis of the Hopkins bill
202 600 aliens in Illinois count for a repre-
sentative and take ii from citizens OF some
other State like Indiana. In New York
there are 10000 aliens getting representa-
ton at the expense OF actual citizens in
other States. In Louisiana. hy the dis