The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-06-09
FROM The CAPITAL

legislatures of the several states will
Amply the result of that reapportion,
uent by redistrictiug their states. Tn,
der the American system Of politics
the minority party has no rights which
the majority is bound to respect
About a century ago-in fact, Oh the
heels of the reapportionment under
the census of 1S10-the Republican
legislature OF Massachusetts. under
the domination of Governor Elbridge
Gerry. redistributed the districts so
that the Federalists could not cleo
members of congress. In order to OBJ
tain Republican majority one dis
trict was made the peculiar outline OF
which presented a somewhat dragon
like contour.
Origin of Gerrymander.
map having this district strongly
outlined hung over the desk of Ben
iamin Russell, an ardent Federaist
partisan editor. Gilbert Stuart, the
celebrated painter. whose portrait Of
Washington has become the accepted
likeness of the Father of His Country,
came into Russelrs Office one day, took
his pencil and added wings and claws
TO the dragon on the map. He then
said, How will that do for a sala-
mander?" Better say gerrymander. :"
growled Russell And thus was coin
| ed the word ''gerrymander" to desig-
nate a practice which from the begin
ming of our political history usually
| has controlled the political party des-
TIMES of the country.
House to Be Larger.
1t Is improbable that the infiuentiai
eastern states will consent TO a rela
| tive loss in representation IN order hat
| the size of the house of representa-
tives may not be increased because of
growth In population The probalili
| ties are that from thirty to seventy
new members will be added TO the
house. II the present apportionmelil
| ratio of 1914, 1872 should be maintained
there will be sixty-six additional MEM
bers In the house and thirty -four leg
islatures will be called upon to redis-
trict their states to provide for the
election of the additional members.
If the Democrats should succeed in
gaining control of the house of repre-
sentatfves In the coming election the
reapportionment undoubtedly will b,
made by the present congress during
| fits last session, which will begin next
December. after It's successor has i,eer
chosen. If the Republicans win IL
November the work of reapp0rtiuh
ment may be postponed to the Sixty
second congress on account of the
chaotic conditions now prevailing IN
the house.
The Treasury Employees.
The treasury department has arran.
ed to give thirty days leave of absence
to all employees who will be affected
by the economies and Improvements
| In business methods which will take
effect July l. In all nearly 200 employ
ees were affected. During the last six
months as vacancies have occurred IN
the treasury or In other departments
transfers of competent persons have
been effected so far as possible. There
remain about thirty-tive employees foi
whom no provision has been made
and the leave of absence Is given them
In order that they may have every reS
sible opportunity to find work Them
selves. After July efficient EMPLOY
ees who remain unprovided for viii b
given preference in the matter OF r.
instatement as vacancies occur
Million Fer Cathedral.
| A fund which IL Is believed vii
amount 70 about SlO00.ooo for til
1 maintenance of the Protestant Ispts
pal cathedral now being built IN III
District of Columbia Is established b
the viii of the late John A. kassua
this city. 1t Is TO be known ~ III
Kasson cathedral endowment f.lls
The principal of the fund Is not IL J.
touched. and any unexpendetl l,;istn;t
of the income is to be added 10 ih:
principal and reinvested The trns
company which Is named as eSHuloi
Is directed 10 give the bishop OF Wash
ington at all times full information as
to the condition of the estate and its
| investment
A Popular Capital.
Residents of the national capital be-
tieve that Washington Is potentially
the convention capital OF the western
hemisphere. and If the plans of the en-
terprising men of Washington do mol
60 awry Washington will be the pre-
mier convention city in fact. The cap.
ital has already come TO high rank as
convention city. not by reason of any
systemsof campaign for attracting con-
ventions here, but simply because OF
It's natural merit and its magnetism
for the countless organized bodies in
the United States Its natural advan.
tages. augmented by additional meet
ing and entertainment facilities and
supplemented by aggressive human en-
deavor. tend to make Washington The
convention capital