Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-20
NEGRO DIsFRAKcHIsEMENT UP

WASHINGTON. SEPT 19.-One Of the nrst
Questions with which the approaching ses-
sion Of congress will be called upon to
graphic viii be TO determine when the next
apportionment Of members Of the house OF
representatives under the recent census
shall be made
While u is not actually required % me
constitution. that instrument implies mat
a reappor tionment shall follow each decen-
nial enumeration Of the people, and accord
ingiy redistribution OF seats In the house
membership has taken place hitherto soon
after the conclusion OF each census.
ID 10 1870 the reapIortionment Nas uni
forIDly postponed until the nTst session oi
the congress succeeding the enumeration
but after the eleventh census change was
made and the apportionment bills for the
eleventh and twelfth census were brought
in ana passed Ia each case during the short
session OF the current congress immeal-
ately following the census. 1t viii resi-
with the approaching session TO determine
whether il shah follow the old or the new
precedent Politics may determine the
choice.
Before the time for the meeting Of con-
gress the result Of the November elections
will have become known. II the democrats
should come into control Of the house Tor
the sixty-third congress they would nat
urally resist any effort TO have the change
made by the present republican congress,
while the republicans would be as anxious
70 have the service performed while they
were Ia control Of legislation in both
houses
Appoftionment In itself can be used for
party advantage only through the msnip-
ulation Of population fractions in the
nous states. II the present day plan Of
fixing upon a definite number Of members
a. the first step in the distribution is' fol-
lowed. many states will be found 10 have
a considerable number of citizens over the
number necessary TO give them the number
Of members assigned them The size of the
house once detsaHniDed. The representation
OF each state IS arrived at by dividing the
aggregate population Of the country by the
total membership OF the house and then
dividing the population Of any given state
by the quotieRt thus obtained. Almost in
eyitably there ensues upon each of such
divisions remainder. large or small Aside
from arbitrarily fixing the representation
ON the voting rather than the actual popu-
lation this remainder. or fraction, affords
the only base OF manipulation Of the ap-
portionment Of members.
IL used to the extreme il might be an
important factor. az fewer than twenty
three representative now mold their seats
on fractions, That they should do SO is
strictly in accordance with the Law. which
provides that any deficiency occurring on
an even division snail be supplied from the
states having the largest remainders on
the division. This rule was strictly fol-
lsssea sn the last aPportionnent Sn al allot
msnts except those made TO Maine and
Nebraska In both these states congress
exercised somewhat arbitrary power by
giving each a representative on a fraction
less than the fractions Of other states
which received nothing because OF their
own fragments. This action WAS taken 20
prevent the loss OF representation by any
state.
II that policy should be accepted in The
Apj,roaching apporuonment II could upset
the plans OF some OF the house leaders
who arc most anxious TO avoid any ap-
preciable increase in the size of the house
The census experts already understand
that when tie figures are made public
some OF the smaller eastern states viii be
found TO have failed TO keep pace in
growth with some Of their larger neigh
bols and with many of the western states
II. therefore they are 10 be protected
arainst loss Of representation in the housC
Il VIII probably be necessary 10 hold the
TaaO down 70 something Ike the present
basis or 10 discriminate in favor OF ths
smaller states.
A loss of membership would be by nc
mtans a new experience u many Of the
states. In the FIRST superintendent mad,
after the census OF l79a. when the hous,
numbered ali told only l0s members VIZ
gtnia was given nineteen or almost one
fifth OF the entire membership and il
ISaa that number was increased 10 twenty
three. Then there was q gradual falling
away until 1870, when there were only Mint
members rom that state. since then thor,
has been gain OF one.
Barring the first apportonment Con
nerucgt began Nith seven members an,
aow has 1--WE. Maryland has been reduce,
from eisht TO six ana New Hampshire from
fUar 10 TWO. Vermont which in 1910 ha,
SIX members now has two. while Main
with eight in lSD has been reduced 10 -four
hsissaehusetts has the same number viii
N'liich 2 started n 1850 In 1870 the numbe
was fnereased 10 thirteen. bat by the mex
sfI,ottiOnsnent IL had fallen 10 ihirteel
ard the original figure oF fourteen Wa
not regained unul lsoo
After Virginia ana massachusetts, Penn
soiaaIls. aith o. members had the larses
representation in the house in I7ga Neg
Nork and Norih Carolina followed vii
le each. The latter state never rose abov
y. hut the former has gone q. higa a
g. Wigsch figure vas attained uu1e. IA
superintendent ~ 1890 and is the larEes
representation any state ever has had
After S0 the New York rcpresen atiJl
fvn 70 3 IN lsn Since thea Il has bee
rising gradually until nov Il is q. Penn
ssltahia's prescott number OF & Is ia
largest ever enjoyed by that state. Froz
ths first census 20 The preseut Rhod
Island. With its two capitals and doubl
naule. has been uniformly represented o.
two consressEien- Delaware had two mem
bers during the decade of Isle-Is16 bu