The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-09
WANT president
TO join IN FIGHT
Advocates Of Reduction Make
Effort to Enlist Influence
OF Mr. Roosevelt.
M0RRELL OFFERS NEW BILL
Is More Sweeping Than platt's
and Would Apply to Any
State i'll Union.
tna Associnied rress.

ie5l Wy S.SSOclntc0 PfeSs.)
WASHINGTON! 81! L NC D. CT, Dec. San cf--
fort Is being MAIDS to enlist tho Influence
OF President Roosevelt In promoting the
proposition 10 reduce the representation
Of certain Southern states in the House
5of Representatives. Representative Crum-
packer. OF Indiana, ono OF the inslstant
advocates OF Il reduction in Southern res
presentation, had talk with the Prcs-
4 dent to-day regarding the matter, He
declined to mako any statement about
the result OF his Interview He probably
VIII have more extended conference
with tho President alta later date on the
4 subject. The President has not indicated
what his attitude amy be toward the pro-
posed legislation.
Representative Morrell. OF Pennsylvania,
to-day introduced a bill to reduce repre-
sentation In States where citizens are
disfranchiscd. The bill is more general
/ than that introduced by Senator Plat
yesterday. and It's provisions apply to-
any State limiting suffrage. q
The Bill, If enacted into law, would
reduce tile representation in Congress OF
/ any State which denies the right OF SUI
tfrage to any Of It's male inhabitants or
I in any way abridges such right. Except
4 IOrSs pArtlclpdllOn3iI III TcUcIllON OE5 OtIleE
4 crime."a1t provides that from and after
I March 4. 1907. when the right to vote at
any election for the choice OF electors for
: President and Vice President, or repre-
sentatlvcs In Congress, the executive or
judicial officers OF the State or the mem,
bcrs OF the State legislature shall be de-
MED or abridged by any State tho basis
4 OF representation therein shall be re-.
duced In the proportion which the num-
/ Der OF such citizens shall bear to the
whole number OF male citizen. twenty ono
years OF age in such State.
Other Provisions of Bill.
Tho bill makes 1t the duty OF the Sec
Rotary OF Commerce and Labor to as
f certain through tho Census Bureau. by
means OF a biennial census the number
OF such citizens In each State to whom
q the right to vote Is so denied or abridged
and TO report tho same to the Speaker
OF the House OF Representatives. on the
4ti day OF March, 1907. and bicnnlskiy
thereafter.
Provision is further made for the read
ing OF. the report In open session at me
beginning OF each Congress, which shall
form the basis OF calculation in deter,
mining the number OF representatives to
which State shall be entitled in that
II Congress. ils3 H. 55
,.If 1t should appear" the bill further
provides, that the number OF represent
tativcs that have been accredited by any
state exceeds the number to which it shall
be entitled according to the rule OF appor-3
tionment herein provided. none OF the
persons SO accredited as representatives
shall be entitled to seats In the House. OF
Representatives but a vacancy in the
entire representation OF such State shall
Il be declared by resolution OF the House
and the executive authority OF such state
\ shall issue wrlts for the election OF q
number OF representatives at large for
tho same equal to the number to which
ii may b justly entitled as declared by
4 the House OF Representatives. 81
Sherman Introduces Bill.
Representative Sherman. Of New York,
I: to-day introduced a bill identical with
the Introduction by Senator Plat IN the
L Senate. reducing the representation OF
Southern States In Congress