The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-09-23
Will Be
CONGRESS- NEXT PROBLEM
of Various States Will be Chang
ed to Conform to New Census mot Required
But is Implied in Federal Constitutions
Result of November Elections Will
Affect Action IN Congress.

Icreased to %. Then there was a grad
ual falling away until 1870, when there
were only nine members from that
state. Since then there has been a
gain of one.
,, Barring the first apportionment,
Connecticut began with 7 members
and now has 5. Maryland has been
reduced from 8 to 6, and New Hamp-
shire from to 2. Vermont, which in
1910 had six members now has two,
while Maine with to 1880 has been
reduced to 4. Massachusetts has the
same number with which she started
in 1890. In 1900 the number was in
creased to II, but by the next appor-
tionment it had fallen to f3, and the
original figure of IA was not regained
until 1900
After Virginia and Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, with 13 members, had
the largest representation in the house
in 1880. New York and North Caro-
lima followed with 10 each The latter
state never rose above 13, but the
former has gone as high as 40, which
figure was attained under the appor-
tionment of 1880 and is the largest
representation any state ever has had
After 1880 the New York representa-
tion fell to 81 in 1860. Since then it
has been rising gradually until now it
is 81. Pennsylvania present num-
Der of 32 is the largest ever enjoyed
by that state. From the first census
to the present, Rhode Island, with her
two capitals and double name, has
been uniformly represented by two
congressman. Delaware had two men,
bers during the decade of 1S1O-1S20,
but otherwise has had but one in the
house at any time.
The first apportionment made by
the constitution itself provided for one
member to every 10000 inhabitants
with the result that at its first session
the house contained only So members.
The census of 1890 resulted in an in
crease to los with $4,000 as the basis
of representation. From that time
forth with one exception the increase
both in representation and ratio has
been steady, as follows: 1900. 141
members with a ratio of $4,000; 1910,
1S1 members and ratio of $4,000;
1920, 213 members and ratio of 10000;
1880, 240 members and ratio of A.
700 1910, 223 members and ratio of
70,6S0; 1850, 233 members and ratio
of 93,423; 1860, 243 members and
ratio of 127,3S1; 1870, 293 members
and ratio of 131, ,425; 1880, S25 mem,
bers and ratio of 151,911; 1890, $50
members and ratio of 173,901; 1900,
9S6 members and ratio of 193,167.
The old leaders of the house are
anxious to keep the size of the house
down and few of them will admit the
possibility of an enlargement to be-
yond 400 or 410 at the utmost
The question of the disfranchise-
ment of the negro vote in the south
ern states will receive attention in
connection with the question of ap-
portionment. The house is even now
on record in favor of an inquiry into
the subject Under the rules of the
house, where debate is limited, a
measure similar to the Crumpacker
bill of last congress might be passed
affording the minority much |
to oppose or obstruct. But
in the senate where there is no cloture
the minority would be strong enough !
to prevent the passage of any obnox-
ious measure unless deferred by the
unwritten rule which permits each |
house to dispose of its own affairs in
its own way.