Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-05
THE REINFORCEMENT PROBLEM.

fRC Eat NSO-I"s
Some interesting speculation will be
rife il, Iowa during the coming months
concerning the probable action Of con-
gress in the matter Of the appointment
unde. the last census The house o.
representatives now numbers SCI MEM
bers 10 which will be added one each
from the states OF New Mexico and
Arizona making to.a! membership
% 393. The house chamber is no"
crowded and this togs her with the
tac: that it is now Difficult; 10 handle
The presen, body because Of It's bulk
VII cause many Of the members 10
feel that the wise course would be to
reduce rather than increase or even
continue the present unwieldy as
=ea13iy
Il the present anpor;ionment OF
congressman % each 225,ooo popuia-
/ ton is changed to 10000 TO hold the
present men. bersatp il Will mean
readjustnlen; or a revision downward
in thes .at-s where the population mas
remained stationary or gone backward.
The Old question. Of the representation
IN the southern states will most like
IL bob UP AID VIII become a factor in
the equation. There is very little pros
pect rha. the house will ever consent
10 reduce its membership. That is not
likely 20 be done until the people them
selves take a hand and force the is
sue 1t IS not likely either that the
house membership will be increased De-
cause the judgment of practically all
the !nen7b is that this move would
b.. not only unxise but almost absurd.
The most tina; can be said Of the mat
Ter in congress is that it is full Of
! difficulties.
! The situation in Iowa will be like
wise difficult Only in one way could
/ the equilibrium in this state be main
/ aimed and that would be ID leave the
aD.ortionmer.t where il is and thus in
crease the membership OF the house
/ This Increase would come from other
sections OF me country, leaving the
! present arrangement in this state in
tact. Nut this is the most unlikely
among the things that may happen
4 Of course, the whole question might
go over 10 the next congress and in
,har event it would be up 20 the demo
cratic majority 20 handle II in the
house with the republican senate and
president 20 81, "a censors. But this
viii be avoided Il the presen: congress
can ge. together on a plan satisfactory
% the majority. The prospect OF a
democratic agpor1ionment is not al
turing 20 man: republicans.
In the even. of action on the part
Of congress which in its effect would
deprive Iowa of one OF her eleven rep
resentatives. j, would be up to the
state into zen instead Of eleven dis
,r:c.s. Wac would be left out? This
would be d question . conjure with.
OF course no one would be left out,
would be two congressman and it
would be up TO these two 10 determine
which should walk the plank. IN states
where the represent alton is increased
il is a comparatively easy task to make
a new district or provide for the selec-
ton Of congressman at large. But 1t
is difficult undertaking 10 take some
thing away from an individual or a
RI
that process of amputation is what
seems likely in Iowa in the near fu-
ture.
Should the legislature fail to re-
tionment by the congress the effect
would be TO make the entire state one
district and all the members of con-
sress would be nominated and selected
at large. This would create chaos in
Iowa There is not much prospect that
this result will be evolved out OF the
existingfi order, but ii is among the
possibilities. What a primary cam
paign would develop with ten con-
gres smen to be chosen at large in the
state is a mater which would cause
all the old timers sit up and take
notice In view of all the possibilities
for trouble it would not be surprising
If the present status were allowed tc
obtain until after the next presidential
election. But in view Of the possibili-
ties involved, the coming session OF the
legislature is likely to be mighty in
teresting one.