The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-16
IOWA LIKELY TO
LOSE . ON man
Redistricting May Be Necessary
After New Census.
POPULATION NOT INCREASING
The State viii Have to Show Up With
100000 People Next Year to
Retain Its Eleven
congressman.

| tionment unless the state shows an ex-
traordinary gain in population by the
census of 1910. 1t seems to be the gen.
eral desire of congress to keep the
membership of the house under 400,
but in order to do that it will be neces-
sary to fix the new basis of represent
tation at about 225,000 if the United
States shows the great gain in popu-
lation that census experts estimate
the country at large has made. Iowa,
however, according to its state cen
sus of 1905, which revealed a slight
decrease from the count of 1900, has
not kept pace with the rest of the
country in population. The state Gen.
sus of 1905 gave Iowa population of
only 2,210,O50, as compared with q
I231,S5 according to the federal count
of 1900. Iowa will have to show
population of close to 100000 next
year to retain it's eleven congressman
| if the basis of representation is fixed
at one member for every 225,000 per-
sons.
Should Iowa show no gain since the
census of 1905, the basis OF represent
alton would have to be fixed at not
more than 100000 to save the Hawk
eye state from loss of one of its con-
gressmen. The present basis of repre-
sentation, as determined by the census
of 1900, is 194,1S2
Might Have Had Another.
Iowa came near having enough pop
ulation under the 1900 apportionment
to obtain twelve congressman instead
of eleven. In fact Iowa was only
1,241 persons short of having a ma
jor fraction of the representation
basis, which clearly would have en-
titled the state to an additional con
gresham. 1t is said here in Wash
ington that, with the remarkably
strong delegation Iowa then had in
congress Henderson being speaker of
the house, the state could readily have
had twelfth member of congress, but
the Iowa congressman at that time
We're afraid the creation of another
district in the state would seriously
ieopardiZe their own political fortunes
and consequently Iowa lost an addi-
tional member of congress that the
state might have enjoyed for the last
several years. Iowa has had eleven
congressman ever since the census OF
1880. Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio
are the only other states with more
than ten congressman each not toI
have made any gain in representation
since that time. The census of 1870
gave Iowa nine congressman and that
of 1860 six.
Large Body Unwieidly.
The house of representatives now
has 391 members and it is the censuses
of opinion among members that even
this number is too large for the prop
er consideration of legislation by the
entire membership of the house. There
fore the lower branch of congress has
had to resort to legislation by COM
mittees and to cloture rules to prevent
unwise delays in the transaction OF
business. The senate is an example
of how a smaller body can give more
thorough attention to the details Of
legislation as was shown in its con-
sideratiOn of the recent tariff bill.
Had the tariff bill been opened up to-
general debate and amendment in the
house as it was in the senate con-
gress would till be in session.
Having found 391 members an al
most uncomfortable body, it is quite
certain that congress will never con
sent to increasing the membership OF
the house beyond the 400 mark. It.
accordingly will be necessary to large.
ly increase the basis of representation
to keep down the membership of the
house owing to the great growth of
the oountry's population. This basis
of representation is what will serious
ly affect the Iowa delegation if it goes
above the 100000 mark. as now seems
certain. Statisticians here who are
figuring on the basis of representation
for the house believe that the figure
will be nearer $4,000, in which event
Iowa is quite likely to lose one con-
gresham. This would occasion great
shaking up of the Iowa districts to re-
duce the number to ten. The Fifth
district or the Sixth district would
have to be wiped practically off the
map in order to provide enough coun-
ties for the other districts in the east
ern part of the state to bolster up
their population totals.
Seven Districts Below Basis.
Seven Iowa districts are even now
below the present basis of represent
tation in their population, these being
the First, Second, Fourth. Fifth, Sixth,
Eighth and Ninth. though the Second,
Eighth and Ninth are within few
thousand each of the required num-
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