Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-08
Reapportionment Problem
Must Be Solved.
Census Discussion Revives a
Question Vital TO Maine.
Distinguished Maine Visitors In
Washington Last Week.

matters III tnc House curing tilt poSt
week. which possibly is responsible for
a revival OF talk about the next APP
portionment Of congressman. repre-
sentative Crumpacker, of IND. CHAIR
man Of the Census Committee, said to-
day that the apportionment OF seats
among the states would have to be
made at the short session OF Congress
next winter.
Il do not know what the policy Of
the House is likely to be- said Judge
Crumpacker There has been oppo-
sition to increasing the size OF the
House in years gone by anG | presume
the same opposition Will appear next
winter. The increase of the House y
years ago from 351 to 1856 members was
stoutIy resisted.
Representative Amos Allen. of
Maine. who retires from Congress of
his own choice a year from March 3
next. said today that he had heard
considerable talk lately about reap
pcrtionment. Il have an idea he
added, that there will be very
strong demand for increasing the mem
bership again. There must be an in
crease in the total membership to en-
TIE next ten years Whatever the
next census may show the increase of
population in Maine to be. the increase
will not be enough to permit of Maine
retaining four members on the quo
tient of population which but 39l re-
representatives. would make. | believe
the House of Representatives. Will
eventually become a body of 800 or 500
members and that the quorum for
transacting business will be made one
third of the membership. instead OF
one half as it now stands.
Representative Burleigh, of the
third district. who was a leader in the
fight of zine years ago and probably
did more than any other member to-
ward having the membership of the
House increased to point where
Maine could have four members. mas
been watching the situation closely
for months and sounding the attitude
of members from other states, VINO
60 not want their representation re-
duced and therefore are in the same
plight as Maine. He has no definite
views to advance vet upon the pros
poets, EXCEPT that it is the part of WIS
dom to make preparations far IN ad-
vance for the contest that is inevitable
as far as Maine is concerned. Tie
Census returns. showing the population
by states, will be known by May or
June next, possibly before the adj
journment of this session of Congress.
When those returns are in and the
population of Maine, as we'll as of
other states. become known. Gov.
Burleigh will have paper and pencil
out and can quickly ascertain some
basic facts on which to make the new
campaign. If this is possible before
Congress adjourns he will improve the
opportunity to confer with congressman
from other states and ascertain who
can be relied upon to cooperate with
the Maine Representatives.. In any
event, by the time the next session of
Congress convenes in December, Gov.
Burleigh will be prepared to take up
the compaign vigorously, both before
the Census Committee and before the
House of Representatives. The struggle
will be chiefly one of determining the
quotient of population. His fight and
the fight of his friends will be to make
that ouotient small enough so that as
a divisor into the population of Maine
it will give another Quotient of four.
There has been quite an influx of
distinguished Maine visitors in recent
days. Ex-Gov. and Mrs. John F. Hill
have been spending a few days here as
the guests of Senator and Mrs. Hale.
They attended the cabinet dinner given
at Rauschers by Postmaster General
Frank II. Hitchcock, Thursday even
ing in honor Of President and Mrs.
Taft. Col. Frederick Hale. of Port
land. son Of Senator and Mrs. Hale.
was also guest at that dinner. Mrs.
Hill acted as hostess for Mr.. Hitch
cock. receiving with him and later oc-
cupying the place at the Presidents
left. The table was circular. and was
adorned with pink and white killar-
nev roses a section of the Marine
Band played during the evening
Seth NJ. Carter. of Lewiston, has also
been in town of recent days on busl-
ness before the Departments.
Gov. Hill usually makes a visit to
Washington about this time Of year
when the national political game IS
taking shape and men are in a mood
to gossip about organization and pros
poets. He improved the opportunity
1br SUCH a Ni9lt ttllS year Will ei''SN
interest because as Chairman of the
Republican National Committee he
must keep abreast of political develop
ments. The National Chairman has no
official part to play in the Congress
sional elections. but he naturally has
a lively concern in the successful out
come of those elections and is some
times called in in an advisory capacity
GOV. and Mrs. Hill have many friends
in Washington, who have made their
recent sojourn here very pleasant
BEFORE leaving Washington the Cover
nor had an interview with the Presi-
dent.
The Maine men are working hard to
rersuade the Naval Committees ana
Congress to favor bill to make Com
mander Robert F.. Peary a real ao-
miral with the privilege of early retire
ment. They are appealing to all
Maine men in the Senate and House TO
work together and those appeals are not
being made in vain. They want to have
the question thoroughly discussed be-
fore il comes to a test in the House
Naval Committee. There is one Maine