Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-08

,.st ton years-of eight representa-
,;,,aS .t the National Capital which
were accorded them ten years ago.
suhmit in all fairness that II eighty
members of this House were necessary
for the adequate representation Of
those states ten years ago, when they
had hut 13.677,576 population--and ! do
NOT think any man will question such
nacessity-it is rank injustice TO re-
duce that representation to u at this
time when their aggregate popula-
zion has reached 15,249.1S1. The sub
stitute bill presented by the minority
NJ the Census Committee deprives no
state of existing representation. while
ar the same time it cheerfully con-
cedes TO Arkansas, California, Colo
RADIO. Connecticut, Florida. Louisiana.
Massachusetts. Mississippi. Missouri,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Wash
ington, West Virginia. wisconsin,
Minnesota. New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Illinois. New York, and Texas that in
creased power in the councils Of the
nation that rightly belongs to them as
n result of their gain in population.
If the eight states so unJustly dis
eliminated against in the majority re
port had lost in population during the
decade. there might have been some
reason for depriving their citizens Of
so large a proportion of the repre-
sentative rights which they have
hitherto enjoyed in this Capital but in
view of their absolute gain of one
million and a half in population the
ma jority bill is not only "A measure alb
solutely without justification but one
which infiicts an uncalled for wrong
upon a large proportion of the citizens
of this country We are met here with 4
proposition not only to ignore the
needs of growing population and of
multiplied and diversified interests by
retaining the same representation
through two decades. but We are asked
also. as crowning act OF Legislative
vandalism. TO loot part of the repre-
sentation OF states which have en-
joyed steady and substantial
growth in wealth and population. |
believe that the majority bill that
turns its back upon practically all the
presidents Of the past. and not only
deprives eighteen great states of this
Union of the increased representation
which should rightfully come TO them
by their growth in population. but
robs eight other great states Of the
Union OF representation established ten
years ago upon smaller population.
has no right to pose in this hall as
measure for the promotion OF the pub
lie interests. Ii might with more
propriety be entitled "A measure TO
deprive the American people OF AIDE
quate representation at the National
Capital"
| firmly believe that no member OF
this House should be required to look
after the interests of more people
than il is possible to give a proper
amount OF individual attention. 1t Is
desirable not only that Congress
man should be in close and sympa-
thetic touch with every part OF his
District. but also that il should not be
beyond the range of possibility for
him to know personally the majority
of the voters who make up his con-
stituency. Such an acquaintance and
such n close knowledge of the needs
of his District is not only essential to
the highest type of representation. but
constitutes the strongest safeguard
which this government can have
against all forms of political jobbery
and corruption. The people desire
more than faithful service. They de-
mand. and they are entitled 10 have
efficient service. and that kind of ser
vice you render To a large extent i'm
possible when YOU 50 enlarge the
population of a legislative District as
to make it a difficult matter for the
individual citizen to reach the ear of
Congress. In 1889. every 10000 people
in the United States had a representa-
tive in this House who usually en-
joyed a personal acquaintance with
practically all of the people of his
District. This. too. was at time
when the conditions of the country
We're simple and the members of Con
gress. being largely free from the
burden of the details which have
grown out of the diversity of present
day affairs, were enabled to give
much closer scrutiny to and study of
the great questions that came up for
solution. Today, a member of Con-
gresS represents in round numbers
$4,000 people. and so great are the
demands upon his time that it is
difficult indeed for him to find oppor-
tdHitS iOl liIt NoHSlNtIdllOll Oi
general measures OF legislation do
not believe that any move calculated
to unnecessarily accentuate this condi-
ton of affairs is either desired by the
American people or in accord with a
wise and progressive public policy.
AS the sharp and caustic colloluies
between Mr.. Littlefield and Mr. Hop
kins We're largely covered in our
Washington dispatches of yesterday.
We will not repeat them here. but will
give. in its connected form, the for
mer's mastery argument. Mr. Little
field said:
MIR. Speaker. | look upon the pending
measure as one of the most important
that can engage the attention of the
members of the House Ii provides for
the apportiOnment of representatives
and upon that basis is fixed the mem
bership in the electoral college and
representation in the various national
conventions.
| hope | may be able to approach the
discussion of this question upon the
basis that the House is disposed to act
fairly. eQuitably, justly. If the mild,
courteous, disintereSted and patriotic
speech of the chairman of this COM
mittee (Mr. Hopkins) is any criterion