The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-28
soME VIEWS AT WASHINGTON.

Az cess 10 further the plan reduce the representation III
congress those Southern States which have partially ais
the negro In fact but little has been heard OF the
matter during the past two weeks and those who formerly
thought that the would amount to anything
now hold all the firmly to the same opinion mere
seems TO be little doubt that Messrs Crupacker ana
Moody of and the others who were the prime
roves in the original movement have been influenced to no
nconsdeabe by the arguments made by the epubI
can representatives from Southern States who mentioned
in The Post the time, held meeting some days ago and
made arrangements oppose the reduction plan There
reason to Southern republicans pointed out
TO their abd brethren of the North the fact that the putting
into effect of the idea would the republican
party to suffer Southern we'll possibly in
Massachusetts, Connecticut California and other republican
States in which suffrage restricted by educational and
qualifications Then, there other difficulties in
the way and while it be understood that the
men has abandoned that it will not be pushed dur
ing the session there apparently good the belief
that Mr. Crumpacker and his immediate followers not
aggressive they short time ago. At rate the
Southerners worrying any appreciable
x
Should actual consideration matter begun during
the coming session, however very interesting debate
be expected number of hn sociological and constitutional
points involved and while the preponderance OF weighy
argument generally thought be the side of those who
oppose reduction idea there doubt that the friends
ct the plan will be able TO find something say.
Most Of the points referred have been touched in
one way another i'll previous dispatches The Post hut
the reference made of them been slight
as further 1t is we'll known that
many Southern urists have long contended that the
fourteenth amendment the Federal constitution which pro
vids for reduced representation all right
Of suffrage forbidden superseded by the fifteenth amend
men IN which the suffrage question dealt with i'll differ
en 1t is also pointed by the Southern repre-
senatve who particularly interesting themselves in
matter that the dsiranchisement iterates
in certain Southern States does any way conflict
the fifteenth amendment nssmuch the right de-
MED all iterstes irrespective of color The reduconiss
attempt to get around this of by claiming that the
negro aimed directly there being average
three black literaes white literate This argument
is weak and will not hold One of the strongest counter al
suments that has been made that of prominent repub
can Census Director Merriam mention of whose article on
Suffrage North and South has already appeared The
Post.
1t is obvious that any attempt reduce Southern repre-
sentaton under the fourteenth amendment result in
bringing large number of obstacles light 1t is generally
regarded that the general rule of representation prescribed
section OF article of the repealed 81 the
teenth amendment but it argued that the provision
providing for enumeration of inhabitants the purpose
of sppoonng representatives than once in ten
years still in force and that therefore change could be
made until the regular census matter If all of the
other features in the in favor OF such change
being male
Then again would hardly be possible to disturb snv Of
the representatives present for even though the
Crumpackcr plan should prevail out of the ques
ton that TINS should be oused because NOT
legally elected Congress might provide for reapportion
e
fective only in the future
On the whole there appears be reason to believe that
Mr. Crumpackers idea will die a-bornng or that at east
it will never be into effect. 1t is likely that no one real
yes this more orcby just than does Mr. Crumpacker
himself.
1t is understood that congress will asked to appropriate
large sum OF money to be used in making up the deficit in
the funds OF the Buffalo Exposition company the orpsniza
ton under the auspices Of which the show was
gwen at Buffalo last and fall The deficit in oue
ton amounts to about $5ooooo and of this or
So"ooGe IS expected to from the taxpayers of the
United States.
For sheer audacy this request which it said will be
formally presented Immediately the holiday recess
passes anything of that kind that has been recently brought
TO ths attention OF the public 1t is customary for various
sums 10 be appropriated by congress exposons
to their opening and such appropriation was made and
turned over to the Buffalo company the arrangements
Tor the show were in their early stages an
on was also made for the St Louis worlds fair to be held
in 1908. So far known however request for an
priation TO make up deficit the funds of an exnos;
company altogether unprecedented
The plan is to be backed by the entire New York dee
ton headed by Senator Plat and providing for the an
prop VIII probably be introduced Immediately after tho
resumption of work big delegation o Bf,
people 49, 1t is said preparing during January
ana work Tor the bill and is plain that very
amount of influence will be brought to bear ON those
oppose the proposition determined fight will be made h.
the South Carolina delegation South Carolina va,, :.
'east 100000 Tor her exposition and if doesn't pe, il
she WIN do everything in her prevent the larger
sum being given to the New Workers The New Workers
course will threaten fight every other proposed
alton II the one they asking for not given them T. l.
not known what the general sentiment there is
10 believe that contains sufficient number Of
VINO do not believe in approprang public moneys to nav the
debts OF bankrupt corporations defeat the audaeion
OF the friends OF the Buffalo company MANY oou.srd -
tempts to reduce the size OF the treasury surplus have b
in evidence since the opening day Of congress- but it is I'LL
mat none OF them have been equal any way to this I
lootng scheme. si
Representative Belamy OF North Carolina has introduced
o the purpose Of which is to reduce the rate Of postage
on hrstcass mail matter for each half ounce o.
fraction thereof The present rate is lust twice mi; 49,
on March B. 1879 law making the rate cents per bt
ounce was passed and the was reduced to the sn