Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-20

only 105 members, Virginia was givel
u 10, or almost one-fifth of the entir,
membership, and in 1900 that numbe
was increased to 49, Then there wal
a gradual falling off until 1870, whe:
there were only nine members from
that state. Since then there ha!
been gain f one.
Barring the first apportionment
, Connecticut began with seven mem
bers and now has five. Maryland has
been reduced from eight to six, anG
New Hampshire from four to 2. Yer
mont, which in 1910 had six members
now has two, while Maine with eight
in 1880, has been reduced to four
Massachusetts has the same number
with which she started in 1890. In
1880 the number was increased to
seventeen, but the next apportion-
ment it had fallen to thirteen, and the
original figure of fourteen was not re.
gained until 1900.
After Virginia and Massachusetts.
| Pennsylvania, with thirteen mem.
bers, had the largest representation
! in the house in 1890. New York and
North Carolina followed with 10 each.
The latter state never rose above
thirteen, but the former has gone as
high as forty, which figure was at
tanned under the apportionment of
1880, and 1t is the largest represen-
tation any state ever has had. After
1880 the New York representation fell
to thirty-one in 1860. Since then it
has been rising gradually until now
it has thirty-seven. Pennsylvania's
present number of thirty-two 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. Del
aware had two members during the
decade of 1810-1820, 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 inhabi-
tants, with the result that at it's first
session the house contained only fifty
five members. The census of 1890 re-
suited in an increase to los with &c..
600 as the basis of representation.
From that time forth with one ex-
ception the increase both in repre-.
sentation and ratio has been steady
as follows:
1900, al members with a ratio of
$4,000.
1910, 1S1 members and ration of
$4,000.
1920, 213 members and ratio of
100000.
1880, 24O members and ratio of
47,7OO.
1910, 223 members and ratio OF
70,6SO.
$780, 233 members and ratio OF
93,423.
1860, 243 members and ratio of
127,3S1.
1910, 293 members and ratio of
131, 425.
1880, 1926 members and ratio of
1891.
1890, 1856 members and ratio of
173,9O1.
1900, 1856 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
beyond 400 or 40 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 !
this subject. Under the rules of the
house, where debate is limited, a |
measure similar to the Crumpacker !
bill of last congress might be passed !
without affording the minority much |
opportunity 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 obnoxious measure unless deter.
red by the u1written rule which per-
mits each house to dispose of it's own
affairs in it's own way.