Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-29
Aooort;onmsnt Problems.

ment, must be fixed at 440 If no state
| is to lose part Of its present repre-
sentatives. This means that unless AZ
members are added to the House. soma
statas must be prepared to make sac
rifices. which is 4 pretty good indica-
ton that the new apportionment law
will sanction an enlargement OF the
popular branch Of Congress. There
seems to be no hurry on the part of
states which show o marked growth
in population TO come forward and de-
clare that they are willing to go with
out any more congressman, and the
House is disposed to deal tenderly with
delegations from states whose repre-
sentation would be decreased. New
York and Pennsylvania show respec-
lively population gains Of 100000 and
!. 800, 600. II they do not wish any moro
representatives in Congress, they
would DO we'll 10 come forward prompt
" and relieve the anxiety OF a trou-
bled committee.
Only once since the foundation Of
the government has the House voted
for a contraction of its membership.
Under the fifth census, in 1880, the
number OF representatives was 242,
having been increased by 90 over the
number allotted under the fourth GEN.
sus In 1911, after the sixth enumera-
ton, the size OF the popular branch
was reduced to 23o and many states
suffered q serious loss in members.
New York's quota was cut from 40
to 81, Pennsylvania from IS to "a, and
Vireinia's from q to Is. The reduc-
ton proved unpopular. and from the
seventh census on, the membership or
the House has been materially in
creased in each reapportionment meas
ure. Between 1860 and 1870 the gain
was 50: between 1870 and 1880. 80: be-
tween 1880 and 1890 &c. and between
1890 and 1900, 3t--five Of these seats
Oklahoma 1t is proposed now to
make an increase Of at least 40, three
of these seats being assigned to the
new states of Arizona and New Mexico.
The smaller states of the Union dis
like TO increase the distance between
themselves and the big states, and the
argument that any increase in the
number Of representatives will renter
the House unwicldy finds little SYM
pathy in those states which would lose
representation under n new apportion-
ment law The addition of 40 members
sive enlargement. It would represent
only the natural growth of the coun-
try as n whole, and would give to the
states which are growing more rapid
ly proper credit for their growth with
out penalizing the states which are
not increasing in population at the
same rate.
Our traditions point to popular leg
isative bodies Of moderate dimen-
sions, and these traditions may pre-
vent our following the example Of
other great powers. The House Of
Commons has go members, the French
Chamber or Deputies 5Si. The British
Chamber OF Peers had, ut the opening
of the present year. els members, and
the French Senate 300. So long as the
House Of Representatives chung to the
iGca that the present chamber could
not be enlarged and that tho desks
which now cucumber it could not be
dispensed with. there was a natural
opposition to marked increases in
membership. In 1901, after the census
Of the previous year, the House organ
ization strongly opposed an enlarge
.nent. and the census committee, of
which Albert J. Hopkins, OF Illinois,
was chairman, reported an apportion-
ment bill practically retaining the old
limit of membership. But the states
| which would have lost members under
such n measure combined to defeat
tie committee plan and won enough
support to substitute the present ap-
portionment law. prepared by Repre-
| sentative Burleigh. Of Maine. and de-
signed to obvIate a threatened loss OF
seats by Maine. Nebraska and Virginia,
| Many important states, including
| Missouri. Iowa. Indiana, Ohio, Maine,
| Virginia. Kentucky and Nebraska,
would be affected by q revival Of the
Hopkins plan of non-eXpansion. From
whatever standpoint the labors of the
House committee are viewed, they are
seen to be so liable to complications
that prolonged debate may be ex-
pected ending in some sort of compro-
| mise, and we shall see before the win
ter is over what sort OF fight will be
made to insure sufficient increase OF
membership to save any state from the
modification OF having its representa-
ton reduced.