New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-08
TO REDUCE S0UTH'S POW Err
PL4IT BILL IN SENATE.
Under 1t Southern States Would
Lose Nineteen Representatives..
IFRoM the rR1B1rNr nrerAt,

sensation to-day when he introduced his bill
cutting down Southern representation, which
was briefly described In these dispatches last
night When he arose in the Senate TO present
the measure, which was prepared by the New
York City Republican Clubs committee on
national affairs. there was a marked departure
from the usual inattention in such cases. and
on demand from the Democratic side the bill
was read at length from the clerks desk. When
the reading was completed Senator Bailey
caused some amusement by references to what
he termed the New-York method of choosing
Senator's. The bill was referred to the Com
mittee on Census whence it is not likely to be
reported at this session.
The bill provides for the reduction of repre-
sentation in the House. as follows: Alabama,
from to 4; Arkansas, I TO 6; Florida, 3 to ,;
Georgia, II to s: Louisiana, to 5; Mississippi.
TO &: North Carolina 10 to s; South Carolina
I 10 .: Tennessee, 10 to 8: Texas. 16 to 10 and
Virginia. 10 TO S. 1t amends the act making
an apportionment of Representatives in Con-
gress among the several States under the
Twelfth Census" by adding new sections Tho
first is a preamble, as follows:
Section 6. Whereas The Constitution of the
United States prescribes in Article NV, Sec
ton . that when the right to vote at any cleo
ton specified in said article is denied to any Of
the male inhabitants of such States. being
twenty-one 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 representation therein shall be reduced
in the proportion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear 10 the whole number of male
citizens tWenty-One years of age In such State
and further preScribes in Article XIV 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 inhabitants of certain States,
and citizens
the United States to vote at some of said speCi-
fed 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 Con-
sutution of the United States. and that the rep
resentation of the States hereinafter specified
should be reduced pursuant 10 the Constitution.
II then provides that after March 8 the repre-
sentation of certain States shall be as given
above. The bill also provides
That whenever hereafter It shall appear to
the satisfaction of the Congress that the right
TO vote at the elections specified in Section 2,
Article II of the Constitution In any Of the
states last specified is no longer denied in
any way abridged for causes not permitted by
the Constitution of the United States then the
number of members apportioned such State
In the House Of Representatives by Section of
the aforesaid act Of 1901. hereby amended, may
be restored to said State by a further amend
ment to the aforesaid act This reduction shall
apply to the next election for members of the
House of Representatives from said last mem
toned States in the 60th Congress.
1t provides in Section for election at large
of the Representatives. of any State whose rep
resentation is reduced. provided the State prior
10 election is not redistrcted on the reduced
basis.
Senator Platt submitted the following state
ment with the bill:
This bill is framed upon the lowest liI1ita ton
possible and treats excluded from the suf-
frage only the male negro citizen over twenty
one years of age classed by the twelfth census
as flitcrates under the 1900 census tables pub
lished since the apportiOnment act of January
is 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 II all negro vOtables-i. e.. male cit
liens over twenty -One-regardess of Iliteracv
should be deemed to be excluded the reduction
In representation, figured from the same ta bIes
would be nearly twice as great as stated I'm this
bill.
1t requires no evidence beyond the notorious
historical fact for Congress TO adjudge what can
not be denled-that the class of negro illiterateS
10 the extent stated is practically excluded from
the suffrage IN the States mentioned in the bill
matter what may be the nominal provisions
of their respective constitutions or election laws
The bill. therefore. presents the smallest reduc-
ton practicable, and is very conservative
How much further, meritoriously considered
the reduction should extend can readily be ar
rived at by more specifically regarding the act
ual facts Of total exclusion in respect TO each
State. In treating fractions Of representation
the benefit has been given in favor of the rep
resentaton, according to the size of the frac-
tons. The "appOrtonment" remains as fixed
in 1901. and the reduction is to cease when
the facts shall warrant it.
The bill has been prepared under the direc-
ton 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 Presi-
dental election unanimously voted TO request
Congress to take immediate action, pursuant
TO the representation plank in the Republican
national platform.
Mr.. Bailey was the only Senator who made
any comment the bill He asked in a sar-
castle tone If there anything in the bill
affecting the representation in the Senate from
States wherein it is charged the Governor and
not the Legislature selects Senator's"
Mr.. Platt replied that the bill contained
such provision.
With this the incident closed.
The Senate reached a decision TO vote on the
Philippine bill, providing for the construction
Of railroads in the islands on December 16 and
transacted considerable other business Mr.
Scott started exceptionally early debate by
attempting to secure the passage of q bill grant
ing pensions to the telegraph operators OF the
Civil War No action taken it. The
discussion Of the time for voting the Philip
pine bill showed a general understanding that
the Christmas holiday recess will begin on De-
cember 10 and extend until January >.