New-York tribune., 1901-01-08
FOR A LARGER HOUSE.
THE HOPKINS REAPPoRTIoNMENT BILL
LIKELY TO BE DEFEATED TOD
rBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE


IBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIruSEI
Washington, JAN THE House viii vote on
the question OF reapportionment tomorrow un-
Ger rule agreed to at the opening of to-day's
session that general debate should close at 8
o'clock Tuesday, and that the final vote should
be taken before adjournment that day. A
number OF rollcalls will probably be necessary,
as each OF several propositions will require an
aye and no vote, and the session is likely to be
prolonged. Not only In the debate on the moor
to-day but notably in the corridors and COM
mlttee rooms there strong tide in favor
OF large increase In the number OF Repre-
sentatives, and the indications were numerous
that the Census Committees bill limiting the
membership to it's present number would not
command the support of one-third of the House.
Chairman Hopkins made the first surrender by
ccnceding in the course Of debate that three
States-Colorado Florida and North Dakota
were each entitled to another Representative
under the ratio adopted in the bill, these being
the only States whose majority fractions mad
not been recognized in the redistribution. Ths
concession destroyed the principal weapon which
has been used in the assault the Burleigh oill,
which, although based upon a House Of 3S4
Representatives, added one each for virginia
and Nebraska and made the total membership
1856. forcing a mathematical fallaey in order 10
delegation.
Chairman Hopkins also admitted seVerai
times in the debate that the present member
ship of 357 was adopted by his committee Tor
the reapportionnaent under the Twelfth Census
only because it would have been necessary 10
raise the membership TO 395 to avoid reoue
ing any delegation as now constituted diiu
that number was larger than the House ought
to be- He insisted. however that 3d. ana not
394 or $780, ought to be the number II ooi was
to be exceeded. and in this he was supported
by the calculations Of the census experts Whose
arithmetical accuracy was unassailao-e
EASTERN MEN AGAINST REDUCTION.
Another important impetus was given 70 the
general trend in favor of larger House oy
caucus Of the Massachusetts, Republican delega-
,ion which decided 20 vote against restricting
the House 10 its present size. and in favor OF the
Burleish proposition or any measure that Woulu
give Massachusetts two additional members the
State gaining nothing under the Hopkins prop,
osition All the Massachusetts members WIN
abide by this decision except Representative
cilIet. who sent word that he had pledged hia-
self in support Of the Hopkins blu. Ihls action
of the Massachusetts delegation is attriOuteu "
the efforts OF Senator Lodge who, with all the
New England Senators. is extremely anxious
that Eastern representation in the EiectoFal
College shall not be reduced. 1t is asserted TO-
night that all the New-England delegations VIII
vote tomorrow solidly in favor OF a HOUSE III
creased TO }95 members or more.
Although no formal action has been taken oy
the New York and Pennsylvania delegauons'
majority OF the members from each OF those
States declare they will vote for $50 OF more'
and similar declarations are made from Kansas
Missouri and California. The Democrats. u for
no other purpose than TO antagonize the Repuo-
lican leaders, are counted upon 70 vote tor
larger House, and by their help u IS hhely thaS
the Hopkins bill will be defeated by Sunstan-
tial majority
Taking advantage OF the feeling manifested
on all sides 70 increase the membership. Penn
sylvanians and MissOurians were active to-day
in behalf of adopting 800 Representatives as
no State would lose. and the gains would be as
follows: FiVe--New-Yori. Four-IllinoiS and
Pennsylvania Three-Texas. Two-Massachu-
setts. Minnesota, Missouri and New-Jersey. One
necticut. Florida Georgia. Iowa. Louisiana
Michigan, Mississippi North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio. Tennessee, Washington. West
Virginia and Wisconsin. It is being pointed out
that under this appOrtionment the major fFac-
tions are all large and representative. and the
fairness. II is also notable that Pennsylvania
would gain only three members until 39S is
reached, that New-YorlS would only gain four
high 1885, and that not until 500 would
FOL all quotas above $50 Among the earnest
advocates OF this proposition Is Mr.. Crumpacker
who made the leading speech in to-days debate.
Mr.. Hepburn, Of Iowa severely arraigned the
present rules as annihating the constitutional
Prerogatives OF the House, and Mr.. Grow, of
Pennsylvania. compared the old system In the
House with the present.