The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-08
Statement AccompanIes RlII.

Statement Accompanies Bill.
 The statement follows: This bill is framed on the lowest limitation possible and treats as excluded from the suffrage only the male negro citizen over 21 years of age, classed by the twelfth census as illterate under the 1900 census tables published the apportionment act of Janu- ary 16, 1901.
 "The aggregates actually excluded from the suffrage in each of the states men tioned are in truth larger than those used as the basis for this act. If all negro votables d e. male citizens over ED, regardless of iliteracy should be deemed to be excluded the reduction in representation figured from the same tables, would be nearly twice as great as stated in this bill.
 Tt requires no evidence beyond the notorious historical fact for congress to adjudge what cannot be denied. that the class of negro iliterates to the extent stated is practically excluded from the suffrage in the states mentioned in the bill, no matter what may be the nom inaI provisions of their respective consti- tutions or election laws. The bill, there fore, presents the smallest reduction practicable and is very conservative.
 Apportionment Remains the Same.
 How much further meritoriusly con sidered, the reduction should extend can readily be arrived at by more specifically regarding the actual facts Of total exclu- sion in respect to each state. In treating fractions of representation, the beneht has been given in favor of the repre- sentation according to the size of the frTx ffrar1f noflt as fixed in 1901 and the reduction is to cease when the fact shall warrant it.
 sThe bill has been prepared under the direction of the committee on national af- fairs of the republican club of the city or New York, the club having at it's hrst i meeting after the presidential election unanimously voted to request congress to | take immediate action pursuant to the representation plank in the national re- publican platform"
 The bill provides for the reduction of representation in the house Of represen- | tatives as follows:
 Alabama from nine to seven; Arkan- l sas seven to six; Florida three to two; Georgia, eleven to eight; Louisiana, seven to five; Mississippi. eight to six; North 1 Carolina, ten to eight South Carolina seven to five; Tennessee ten to nine; Texas, sixteen to fifteen; Virginia, ten to eight.
 Bailey Grows Sarcastic.
 At the request of Mir Carmack, the bill was read in detail when introduced in | the senate.
 l The introduction of the bill created 1 considerable interest on the democratic side and on the request of several sen ators portions of the measure were re- read. MT. Bailey was the only sena- tor who made any comment upon the Il l.n asked if there was anything in the bill affecting the representation in the senate from states wherein it is arged that the governor and not the legislature selects senator's
 MT. Platt replied that the bill contains no such provision.
 With this the incident closed for the time and the routine business was pro- | ceeded with.
 New Sections Are Added. | The bill amends the act making an ap- | portionment of representatives in con- gross among the several states under the twelfth census by adding new sections.
 The first Is d preamble as follows:
 "Whereas, the constitution of the Uni ted States prescribes in article IA. section 2, 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 or in any way abridged. except for participation in rebellion or other crimes the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 21 years of age in such state; and further prescribes in article 15 that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 1 not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state, -or on account of race. | color ar previous conditions of <servitllde.' l and whereas,
 '"The congress is satisfied that the right of male inhabitants of certain states be- ing 21 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 repre- sentation of the states hereinafter specl- fled should be reduced, pursuant to the constitution"
 | rt tbar rroxrdaa that after tho 3rd of