The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-07
PLATT OULD LOP
OFF SOU1lHERNERS
Senator Has a Bill to Gut Down
Representation in the
House.
New York Sun Special Service.

- g. F. .
Washington, Dec. 7.-senator Platt
of New York has led off in the fight
to reduce representation in the house
from such states as. restrict the suffrage
and prevent negroes and illiterates
from voting. He has introduced bill
in the senate reducing representation.
1t is regarded as the most conservative
proposition yet advanced. It provides
FOR representation based on the male
voting population of each state, as
shown by the last census.
The Platt bill is so sadroitly drawn
that it affects only southern states and
| does not make any change from Massa-
chusetts, where the educational test is
i operative, and makes no reduction in
| the number of house members from any
northern state. !
The total reduction from southern
states, as indicated by the Plat bill.
would be sixteen members. ~
Democrats Aroused. Il,
The introduction .of the bill created
much interest on the democratic side,
and at the request of several senators
portions of the measure were re-read.
Mr.. Bailey was the only senator who
made any comemnt. He inquired sar.
castically if there "was ANYTHING in
the bill affecting the representation in
the senate from states wherein it. is
charged the governor and not the legis:
| lature selects senators?'' Mr.. Plat
provision. $ss.s.ft ~.
The bill and statement by: Senator
Platt were referred to the committee or
census. The statement follows: ~
HThis bill is framed upon the lowes
limitation possible and treats as ex
Guided from the suffrage only the NAL,
negro citizens over 81 years of age
ate, under the 1900 census, tables pub
lished since the apportionment act O.
1.-THE aggregates actually exclude,
from the suffrage in each. Of the state
mentioned are in truth larger thai
those used as the basis for this act. L
all negro votables lthat is, Gale citizen
be deemed to be excluded, the reduction
in representation, figured from the sam
b tables would be nearly twice as grea
as stated in this biz. zJ..:Ss
Bill conservative.
ut requirl fevidence beyond tn
b no aaoad bp
u literates to the extent stated is practi
} cally excluded from the suffrage in tn
states mentioned in the BILL no matte
} what may be the nominal provisions Q
their respective constitutions or cleo
ton laws. :: The bill, therefore, present
the smallest reduction practicable an
is very conservative. !.
elbow much further, meritoriousl
considered, the reduction should exten
. can readily be arrived at by more spe
! officially regarding the actual facts Q
) total exclusion in respect to each STATE
T In treating fractions Of representatio
, the benefit has been given in favor o
the representation according to the siz
: Of the fractions. The Fapportionment
9 remains as fixed in 1901 and the 'rt
;. duction' is to cease when the facts sha
t warrant it. #. -
, t"The bill has been prepared undo
\ the direction of the committee on n;
e tional affairs of the Republican clu
: of the city Of New York, the club ha,
0 ing at it's first meeting after the pres
Dental election unanimously voted t
request congress to take immediate a.
! tion pursuant to the representatio
u plank in the national republican ~pla
FORM -