Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-08
IN NAMES BEHALF.
Continued from page 81

$oooo00 to $4,000. to give these details.
which he declined to do. ! have made a
bret computation of the expense for each
additional member, reckoning his average
mileage at $3iS, his salary at $1,000 his sta
tionery allowance at $l25. and his clerk
hire at $1,000. making total of $66l3SS.
Multiplying that by % will give in
round numbers 100000. But why this
apasm of economy right now upon 100000
year when II is proposed to increase the
size of this House? Why this desire to
save that sum for the purpose of prevent
ing an increase in size? Why would not
some of this economy be wise in connec-
ton with some of the other great propo-
sitonS that have been pending here? Inls
House without due consideration votes
vast sums of money, and now II begins TO
bear down upon the theory of economy
because il is going To cost too much TO
have the American people properly repre-
scented upon the floor OF this House. That
is an argument that the gentleman did
not rely upon to any extent, ana IL is an
argument that | submit is entitled to no
consideration as against the interests OF
the people represented.
| have gone over these matters some
what hurriedly. | have called attention
to the various suggestions of the distin-
sIished chairman, except as TO the
Cherokee Strip" | do not quite under
stand how that has any bearing upon the
question whether or not this House shall
or shall not be increased in size If the
Republican majority increases in size, the
size of the Cherokee strip increases. If
there was a Democratic majority. the
Cherokee Strip would be located upon
the other side | do not understand that
il is any special mark of reproach, and if
it was it would be precisely the same
with 200 or 800 members, if you diminish
the size of the seating capacity so as TO
have more room outside. as you nave IL
and use il now. So, submit. there is no
objection that can be urged with force or
weight in that direction.
Allow me- by way of comparison, to re-
fer to the size of representative bodies III
other countries.
consists OF go r2embers. based upon an
average ratio of. say. 5000, with popu-
lation of 40.1SS. 927. That is the great rep
resentatiVe body of England. To be sure,
40 members constitute quorum
The Chamber of Deputies in France
consists of $40 members, but majority
OF those are required to constitute quo
rum. Their basis of representation IS
about 66Go0. with a population OF 3s.5l' :
80. And it is TO be said that $40 people
in France can meet in an Intelligent and
orderly manner and transact business
and that 3S6 in America can not, because
that is the argument-the argument of
Inconvenience and OF an unwieldy char
acter.
The Reichstag Of The German Empire
consists Of 391 members, and 1t takes a
majority for quorum. 1t is based on 4
representation of ISL, 6S1. The population
In Snain. decenerate, medieval Spain.
49, members constitute their lower House,
their Congress. one for every i0.19 OF
population; and it takes 20 members be RS for
quorum. The population Is li,JJo,-lb
In italy the Chamber of Deputies is
composed of 50S members, on a basis or
10 every 5000, in round numbers. and 1t
takes majority Tor a quorum fopul"-
ton. 29.t99.1S5.
In Canada the House of Commons is
composed of 2l3 members. or | for every
226l1 and it takes % members, with the
Speaker, for quorum Its population Is
i,S23.S15. ~
I'm Belgium the House consists of 49,
members l for every 45.757. and a major
ity constitutes a quorum. Population, g.
GOODS.
In Austria it requires 100 to constitute
a quorum and the size of their lower
body is 353. The lower House of Hungary
is composed of 453 members. and the basis
in round numbers, and 100 members con-
stitute quorum: The population OF
Austria H ungary is Al ,Se'.W
Sweden has a lower House consisting o.
IN members. with n basis OF representa-
ton of about 10000. | have not the num-
her required there for a quorum. Popu-
Ia ton, i.75i,9Sl.
The lower House of Japan consists of
500 members. the basis OF representation
being to every l2SOJo. and one-thrd Of
the entire number is required to cOnSu-
tute Il quorum. Its population is 41,0S994
These popular branches all exist. except
in France, under monarchlcal forms OF
government. and Yet it has been deemed
necessary there. in order properly to pro-
tect the rights of constituents, to have in
the largest instance basis of representa-
tiGn not greater than $4,000, while the
basis Of representation proposed in the
minority bin is 1850 And | submit that
the republic can i'll afford. with these
Illustrations of popular representation
under monarchical forms of government
before it. to diminish the size of its rep
rcScntatiOn or increase the ratio upon
which il is based
Now. | will proceed with an analysis Of
this bin upon , the chairman's plan, His
state and divide it by the number Of rep
rcScntativcs given to it by the bill and
thus get the number Of inhabitants per
representative.
The following table gives the basis Of
representation on this theory under both