The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-12-15

the RepuDIICan Iiu0 OF the CITY OF
New York, having as It's purpose the
reduction IF the representation in
Congress of the Southern States that
have disfranchised the negro voter.
The measure, II enacted in Its pres
ent form, would lessen the member.
ship In Congress by nineteen, accord.
ing 10 the estimate that has been
made by the Republican Club, which
originated it. The bill and state
ment issued by Senator Plat were
referred to the committee on the cen
sus. The statement follows:
This bill Is framed upon the low
est Limitation possible, and treats as
excluded l. ON The suffrage only the
male negro citizen over II years of
ngc, cfassed by the Twelfth Census
as iIliterates, under the 1900 census
tables published since the apportion-
ment act of January 16, 1901. The ag-
gregate actually excluded from the
suffrage in each Of the States men
toned are in truth larger than those
used as the basis for this act. If all
negro votables ii. c., male citizens
over 2D regardless of illiteracy should
be deemed to be excluded, the reduc-
ton in representation figured from
the same tables would be nearly twice
as great as stated in this bill. It re-
quires no evidence beyond the notori-
Gus historical fact for Congress to ad-
judge what cannot be, denied, that
the class Of negro iliiterates, to the
extent stated, Is practically excluded
from the suffrage in the States men
toned in the BILL no matter what may
be nominal provisions Of their re-
spective constitutions or election laws.
The bill therefore presents the small
est reduction practicable and is very
conservative.
How much further, meritoriously
considered, the reduction should ex-
tend can be readily arrived at by
more specifically regarding the actual
facts Of total exclusion in respect to
eaCn State. In treating fractions Of
presentation, tho benefit has been
given in favor Of the representation,
according to the size of the fractions.
The appOrtiOnment remains as fixed
III 1901, and the reduction is to
cease when the facts shall warrant it.
The bill has been prepared under the
direction OF the committee on national
affairs of the Republican Club of the
City Of New York; the club, having
at its first meeting after the Presiden-
tial election, unanimously voted to
ask Congress to take action, pursuant
to the representation plank in the
national Republican PLATFORM
The bill provides for the reduction
Of representation in the House of Rep.
resentatives as follows: Alabama,
from 9 to Z; Arkansas, Z to 6; Florida,
) to 2: Georgia, II to s; Louisiana, Z
to 5: Mississippi, to g. North Caro-
lima, 10 to 8; South Carolina, Z to 5:
Tennessee, 10 to 8; Texas, Is to Is;
vi, ginia, 10 to 8. This bill amends
the act making an apportionment OF
reprcs entativeS In Congress among
the several States under the Twelfth
Census" by adding new sections. The
first is q preamble as follows:
Section 6. Whereas, the constitu-
ton of the United States prescribes
In article Ii, section 2, that when the
right to vote at any election specified
in said article is denied to any of the
male inhabitants Of such States, being
u years Of age and citizens Of the
United States or in any way abridges,
except for participation In rebellion
or other crime the basis of represen-
tatiOn therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number Of such
male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens p years Of
age in such States;' and further pre-
scribes In article Is that the right of
citizens Of the United States to vote
Shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or any State, on account
Of race, color, OR previous condition Of
servitude;;' and whereas, the Congress
is satisfied that the right Of male in
habitants of certain States being q
years Of age and citizens Of the United
States to vote at some of said specified
elections since the passage Of the act
hereby amended has In fact been denied
Or in some way abridged for causes not
permitted by the constitution Of the
United States, and that the represen-
tation OF the States hereinafter speci-
fed should be reduced persuant to the
constitution. It then provides that
after the Ord of March the representa-
ton of certain States shall be as given
above.
The bill also provides: "That when
ever hereafter it shall appear to the
satisfaction of the Congress that the
right to vote at the elections specified
in section 2, article IA. of the constitu-
ton in any of the States last specified
Is no longer denied Or in any way
abridged for causes not permitted by
the constitution of the United States,
then the number Of members appor-
toned to such State in the House of
Representatives by section one of the
Aforesaid act Of 1901, hereby amended,
may be restored to said state by a
further amendment to the aforesaid
act. This reduction shall apply to the
next election for members of the House
OF Representatives from said last men
toned States in the Sixtieth Congress.
Section {, Unless the Legislature
Of any Of the specified States whose
representation is reduced by this act
shall have provided before the time
fixed by law for the next election of
Representatives therein for the
election Of Representatives by
districts. after the manner de-
noted in section of the aforesaid
act Of 1901. herein amended, then the
whole number of Representatives from
such State as apportioned by the re-
duction hereby established shall be
elected at large, as provided for in said
aforesaid section wherein respect to
cases where the number of Represen-
tatives provided for in any Stats shall
be less than it was before the change