El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-20

against loss of representation in the
house it will probably be necessary
to hold the ratio down to something
like the present basis or to discrimi-
nate in favor of the smaller states.
Many Have Lost Members.
\ loss of membership would be by
no means anew experience to many OF
the states. In the first apportionment
made after the census Of 1890, when
the house numbered, all told, only los
members, Virginia was given 49, or al
most one-fifth of the entire member
snip, and in 1900 that number was in
creased to %. Then there was a grad
ual falling away until 1870, when there
were only nine members from that
state Since then there has been Il
gain of one.
Barring the first apportionment, Con-
necticut began with seven members
and now has five. Maryland has been
reduced from eight to six, and New
Hampshire from four to two; Vermont
which in 1910 had six members, now
has two, while Maine with eight in
1880 has been reduced to four. Mas
sachusets has the same number with
which she started in 1890. In 1900 the
number was increased to II, but by the
next appointment it had fallen to
-, and the original figure of IA was
not regained until 1900
Virginia's Representation.
After Virginia and Massachusetts,,
Pennsylvania, with Is members, had
the largest representation in the house
in 1890. New York and North Caro-
lima followed with 10 each. The lat
ter state never rose above 10, 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 stae ever has had.
After 1880 the New York representa-
ton fell to 81 in 1850. Since then it
has been rising gradually until now
it is 81. Pennsylvania's present num-
Der of 90 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 con-
gressmen. Delaware had two members
during the decade of IS1O-1S2O, but
otherwise has had but one in the house
at any time
The First Apportfonment.
The first ap1ortfonment made by the
constitution itself provided for one
member to every 10000 inhabitants
with the result that at its first ses-
sion the house contained only SIS mem
bers- The census of 1890 resulted in
an increase to 105 with $4,000 as the
basis of representation. From that
time forth with one exception the in.
crease both in representation and ratio
has been steady, as follows: 1SOO l4I
members with a ratio of $4,000: 1910
Isl member and ratio Of So. 900: 1920.
213 members and ratio of 10000: 1890
24O members and ratio of 47,7OO; 1910.
223 members and ratio Of LO.6SO; 1850.
z33 members and ratio of 93,423: 1860.
24S members and ratio of 1881; 1870,
293 members and ratio of 131.425: 1880.
325 members and ratio of 1881: 1890.
356 members and ratio OF 173,9O1; 1900,
3S6 members and ratio Of I93.167.
The old leaders Of the house are anx-
ious to keep the size of the house down
and few of them will admit the posi-
blIlty Of an enlargement to beyond 400
or 40 at the utmost.
Disfranchfsement of Negro
The question of the disfrancbisemen
or the negro vote in the southern
states viii receive attention in connec-
ton with the question of apportfon-
ment The house is even now on rec
ord 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 ar-
fording the minority much opportunitv
to oppose or obstruct But in the sen
ate where there is no cloture the mi
nority would be strong enough to nre-
vent the passage of any obnoxious
measure unless deferred by the nm
written rule which permfts each bouse
10 dlspose of its own affairs in its o,rn
way.