Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1904-12-08
TO REDUCE SOUTH
ERN REPRESENTIVES
Senator Platt Introduces Meas
ure In Congress.
SOUTH WILL LOSE NINETEEN
Bill Created Much Interest on Demo
cratic Side of Chamber-Document
Was Prepared by National Republic
an Committee.
an Committee.

Washington, Dec. 7.-Senator Platt,
| of New York, today introduced the
bill prepared under the direction OF
the committee on National Republican
club of the city of New York, having
as its purpose the reduction of the
representation in congress of several
states that have disfranchised the ne
gro voter. The measure. if enacted
in its present form, would lessen the
membership in congress by 19, accord
ing to the estimate that has been made
by the Republican club, which origin
ated it. The bill and statement is
sued by Senator Platt were referred to
the committee on the census.
The statement follows:
This bill Is framed on the lowest
limitation possible and treats exclud.
ing from the suffrage only the male
negro citizen over 21 years of age,
classed by the twelfth census as IL
literate, under 1900 census tables, pub.
lished since the apportionment act OF
January 16, 1901.
"The aggregates actually excluded
from the suffrage in each of the states
mentioned are in truth larger than
those used as the basis for this act.
If all negro votables e. e., male citi.
zens over 21) regardless of illiteracy
should be deemed excluded, the reduc.
tion in representation figured from the
same tables, would be nearly twice
as great as stated III this bill.
"It requires no evidence beyond the
notorious historical fact for congress
to adjudge what cannot be denied, that
the class of negro illiterates to the
extent states, is practically excluded
from the suffrage in the states men.
toned In the bill, no matter what
may be nominal provisions of their
respective constitutions of election
laws. The bill, therefore, presents
the smallest reduction practicable and
is very conservative.
How much further, meritoriously
considered, the reduction should ex'
tend can readily be arrived at by more
specifically regarding the actual facts
of total exclusion In respect to each
state In treating fractions of repre-
sentation the benefit has been given in
favor of the representation, according
to the size of the fractions. The
'apportionment' remains are fixed in
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 ma.
tional affairs of the Republican club
Of the city of New York, the club hav.
ing at its first meeting after the pres
idential election unanimously voted to
require congress to take immediate
action pursuant to the representation
plank in the national Republican plat
form. The bill provides for the re
duction of representation in the house
as follows: Alabama from to z;
Arkansas to g.; Florida to 2; Geor
gia II to 6; Louisiana to s.; Misgis.
sippi to 6; North Carolina 10 to 8;
South Carolina Z to g. Tennessee 10
to g.; Texas 16 to Is; Virginia 10 to g.
The introduction of the bill created
considerable interest on the Democrat
ic side of the chamber and at the
request of several senators portions oi
the measure were re-read. Mr.. Bailey
was the only senator who made any
comment on the measure. With the
tone of sarcasm he asked If there "was
anything the bill affecting the repre-
sentation in the senate from states
wherein it is charged the governor
and not the legislature selects sena
tors?"