The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-05
Appointment Fight Predict
ed for Present Session
of Congress.
is EXPECTED
TO COMBAT WEST
Sentiment Exists Fsvoring Reduc-
ton of Representation TO Avoid
Unwieldy Growth.

CHICAGO, Sept. 5.-"Greater New
York. with a population Of 4,z66,Ss3,
as announced by the Census Bureau,
on the present basis Of the Congress
sionaI aPportionrent, would have
twenty-four or twenty live members
in Congress, and the total member
ship IN that body from the country at
large would be so large the hail OF
the House Of Representative could
not accommodate them"
That was the comment OF the latest
census bulletin by Col Henry Cas-
son, sergeant-at-arms OF the House
OF Representatives who IS attached
10 Republican Congressional head
quarters IN the Auditorium Hotel
Greater New York now has seven
teen members
Eleven From Chicago.
Figuring on the same basis, If Chi
cago's population shall prove 70 be
around 2,I5O,Og0, as forecast, the city
would be entitled to eleven Congress
men, with possibly enough population
ia the country precincts TO make Cook
COUnJy's representation twelve, as
against ten now with the aid OF Lake
county, which IS a part OF the Gsuta
district
Colonel Casson also said the total
population Of Oklahoma, which mas pen
announced officially, would give lIldl
new state nine Congressman on the
present basis of appointment, which ne
said is the best record made BY any
state at the age OF Oklahoma
These statements have caused Repub-
] Hcans 10 speculate a. once on the line
Up Of the apportionuSent battle IN Con
gress after the official census for the
nation has been made public II Is eX-
peCted that the greater part Of the pop
ulaJiOu increase. outside OF the large
cities. viii be in the Western States,
and naturally II the membership Of the
House is TO be increased, the West viii
( demand the larger part OF that Increase
New Contest FoTetold.
Republicans who remember the appor-
Torment contests OF ten and twenty
( years ago say the battles hinged on the
/ question Of preserving To the little
/ pocket-bOr0uEh States Of the East the
I representation they had, which even
twenty years ego vas threatened BY the
! growing West and they predict that
! contest viii be renewed with increased
energy at this tine
/ Delaware. during only one census dec
ace had more than one Congress- .
I Maine at one time had eight, but the
I number has been decreasing until now
il has four. a figure at which IL IA stood
I for forty years Nevada never had more
than one, and never had population
enough % Justify that; New Hampshire
j
never has had more than two and Yer
! mont has gone from six TO two. 1t is
/ taken as a foreEone conclusion that the
Eastern interests wiz oppose any APP
/ porCiOnmeur plan which viii reduce the
representation Of these States
ApPortionment Prospect
/ II the Democrats should succeed in
] eIecGns majority OF the next House OF
/ Representatives at the November cleo
I ton, II is probable the question OF ap-
| poruonment viii De tackled by the pres
/ ent Congress, which is Republican. at
/ the coming session. Should the Republi-
/ cans retain control, there IS a chance
I the whole matter may 70 over Until the
I new Congress meets. the interim being
} occupied by the party leaders IN trying
I 10 reach some agreement
/ There are 81 members Of Couzress
I now, a number which admittedly is IN
/ wieldiy. and there is a sentiment in
] favor OF keeping Il right there, or even
I mobile IN legislation. but as that would
/ unQuestionably result in reducing the
/ representation OF a number Of States.
/ some OF chem outside Of New England,
/ Il is more probable the TOtal number
I VIII be pushed along over the 20 mark
After the census Of 1890 the basis Of
4 appOrtiOnmenJ was fixed at 1S4,1S2 pOpu-
! iatton- which was an increase Of 31.9Sl
over the basis adopted ten years pEevi-
/ cusly. Two new states, New Mexico
/ and Arizona are Ent Yet represented in
! Congress, and they viii have to be con-
/ si1ered IN any apo tiOnment plan