The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-09-20
of Various States Will be Chang
ed to Conform to New Census Not Required
But is Implied in Federal Constitution---
Result of November Elections Will
Affect Action III Congress.

eOnething IKE the present basis or 10
discriminate in favor of the smaller
states.
A loss of membership would be by
no means new experience to many of
the states. In the first apportionment,
made after the census of 1890, when
the house numbered. all told, only 105
members, Virginia was given 19, or
almost one-fifth of the entire member
ship. and in 1900 that number was in
creased to 23. 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 Z. members
and now has 5. Maryland has been
yednced from 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 13. 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 1890. New York and North Caro-
lima followed with 1g each. The latter
state never rose above 1S, 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-
ber 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 mem
bers during the decade of 1S10-1s20,
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 105 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 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, 22S members and ratio of
70,6S0; 1850 2S3 members and ratio
Iof 9s,423: 1860, 243 members and
ratio of 1273S1; 1870. 2SS members
and ratio of 131,425; 1880, 1926 men,
bers and ratio of 1891; 1890. S56
members and ratio Of 17S,9O1; 1900,
1856 members and ratio OF 19S,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
without affording the minority much
Opportunity to oppose or obstruct. But
in the senate where there is no c1oture
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