The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-22
SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIONlNc CONGRESS
Can a New Apportionment Law BE Passed al
This Time?


investigation OF the election laws Of the
Soulh is topic of conversation at tie
Capitol supporters oi the Crumpacker
measure defend it ON the ground that the
suffrage conditions in the South demand
complete exposure, while the Democrats
are solid in their purpose 10 prevent. ~
iar ~ POSSIBLE. the Republican program
from being executed. believing to be the
forernnner Of another force bill While
ra lical Republicans express pleasure that
the Committee ON Rules has taken Affirm
ative action in the matter. there are con.
servatiycs who regret that the agitation
il threatened This class of Republicans
point out that nothing can be- developed
by the investigation beyond what ia al
ready known. and that the only result
will he To place upon their party the re-
sponsibilty OF providing "A remedy.
Some Of the best lawyers ON the Repub
lean side Of the House. who have given
this phase of the question their close at
tention. have come To the conclusion that
II will be necessary. ii remedial action Is
contemplated a. the outcome of the in
quiry. to station Federal officers NJ every
polling place in the South The duty OF
these officers will be TO keep record oi
the persons white and colored, whose
right of suffrage is abridged or denied, so
that Congress may have accurate infor-
nation IA TO the proportion Of suppress
ed votes in order to arrange the new rep
resentation. While the duty oi these Off
csrs will be confined to the securing OF
this record, it il appreciated that their
presence will he regarded as n Federal in
reference. and will therefore be certain
10 create trouble In fact, many Repub-
licans believe that the effort to find so
luton for the Southern problem will in
yolye the Republican party in an endless
amount Of difficulty, and they regret to
see their leaders embark upon the inves-
tigation.
Gan 4 NEW APPORriONMENT ~ MADE
Another interesting question which
has been raised in connection with the
Crumpacker resolution concerns the right
OF Congress to attempt new apportlOn-
mcnt of Congressional representation at
the time. The Constitution explicitly
directs that the actual enumeration for
appointment shall be made in every ten
years. This enumeration was made IN
1900, and the new apportionment there
under was provided for in an act passed
e / at the, last Congress While there is
NJ doubt that Congress can proceed with
all investigation of suffrage conditions,
it is considered an open question whether
any action can be taken be taken before
next census which contemplates new
enumeration and apportionment oflegis-
lative districts, the courts have decided
that enumeration and apportionment
provided for at stated times by the State
constitution cannot be taken at interven
ing periods.
How far this provision OF the Consti-
ton conflicts with theiourteenth amend
ment, which provides for a reduction OF
representative to correspond with the
denial or abridgment OF the right OF sui
frage, is a question which has not been
decided. 1t is apparent, however, that
the situation which the action of the Re-
publican leaders has created is one
fraught with many serious problems,
more far-reaching and troublesome than
has been appreciated by those who have
hastily,given countenance to the proposed
investigation.
II the program be adopted, a commit
tee Of thirteen, eight Republicans and
five Democrats, will be named, with
either Mr.. Crumpacker of Indiana, or Mr..
Dick. of Ohio, as chairman.
DEMOCRATS WILL CAUCUS on SUFFRAGE.
The House Democrats without excep-
ton regard the resolution for suffrage
investigation, ordered reported from the
Committee, on Rules, as an entering
wedge to restrictive legislation against
the South. There will be a caucus on the
policy of resistance to be followed, but,
the caucus will not be held till day or
two before the Republicans plan to bring
the resolution up in the House.
It was a question whether the Repub-
Iicans will ever vote for the resolution in
sufficient number to pass it. There are
scores Of Republicans in the House who
deprecate it and who regard it as bad
politics The chances probably are that
it will Bass by small margin and re-
port be submitted toward the close OF
the session, such as can be circulate for
political purposes in the districts in the
Middle Western States during the coming
compaign
Nothing has come up in the House in
recent times that has more solidified the
Democrats. Although realizing full well
that the agitation of an investigation
will make votes for them in the end,
Democrats OF the South deplore such
thing in the extreme. 1t stirs up sectional
animosities of their people and sooner or
In for radounda IN the industrial injury OF
their States.
HOW THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS FEEL.
The Northern Democrats are by no