Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-10
Our Maine Congressional Apportion-
ment.

Our Maine Congressional Apportion-
ment.
Lewiston JOurna1)
the next congressional apportionnlent.
A proposition has been made to make
300, 900 of populate the basis of repre-
sentation il the National House. in 9TH
er words, one congressman for each 300
900 population. Names population is
new estimated over 100000 A basis of
100000 would cut our representation
down to three congressman. States
Which are rapidly growing object t. in
creased representation. They say that
Congress is already unwieldly in size.
On the other hand. the old established
Eastern states, which grow but slowly
in population by immigration, have a
certain standing in the case by reason
of the more intelligent type of its pop
ulation beth native and alien, and scri-
ouSly object to being cut down in theif
representation because they have not
grown so rapidly as some of the Ctner
states. II was along this line that Rep
rescntative Burleigh led the fight ten
years ago for basis of reapportion-
ment by which Maine was saved the
loss of one congressman.
Now we do not all agree with some
of the writer's who insist that the basis
e representation should be reduced so
as 10 reduce the size of the National
House. Some Of us suggest that the
integrity Of statehood is not to be
wiped out by the excessive augmenta-
ton of the powers of the greater states
u So I,
be possible to formulate a bill which
shall place minimum representation
OF four congressman in each state 1.-TWO
for each senator) with an increased
ratio OF representation in the states
which on the present basis would send
'nuch larger number of congressman
under tho new anportionment.
u is nlanifeStly simple Justice that
the State of Maine, for instance. with
its large territory, with its increasing
population, with its growing diversity
Of industries. with the MULTIPLICATION of
public demand upon her representatives
in Congress-, with border line touch
ing upon Canada (Which must he safe
guarded II the protective tariff is to
enuure) with her shipping ard coast
wise interests, iD short, with six times
the work for her four congressman that
she hGd thirty years ago with her six
congressman, it is manifeStly unfair to
reduce her representation in the Ma
tonal House to three members when
the city of New York, with it's congress
slonal representation fattered by the
swarms of immigrants from southern
Italy, is sending today Is members to
congress with prospect of an increa Sc
TO more than 20 members under the
new appointment. or more than all of
the states of New England outside of
Massachusetts,
In short it is not altogether a mat
ter of population. it is a matter of the
variety of the industries to be project
ed. OF territory to be conserved, and of
the inherent rights Of a state to have y
certain proportional representation
along with other states of the Union in
stead Of being swamped by the growth
or the great centers of population. thus
creating Il new seat Of power within
the cities to the distress and the Giss:,t
is1actlon of the country. Before our
SCod friends, such as the Boston Tran
script and others cavalierly decide To
reduce the representation of the slow
growing states, let them consider these
phases Of the question. and remember
that there are other claims upon pa
tlonal recognition than the mere count
ing OF noses in the decennial census.