Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22
REINFORCEMENT OF CONGRESS
PART /.
PART l.

| The reapportionment Of representation
| in Congress on the basis of the returns
| of the census of 1910, which will govern
| after March 3. 1919 is not only engaging
the attention of our legislators, but also
the politicians generally. Not only the
| number Of the members of the House is
4 determined by it, but our whole political
machinery with that important institu-
ton. the electoral college. through which
the President and Vice President of the
/ United States are selected, as also, since
/ 1925. when the nominations ceased to be
| made by a congressional caucus, the num-
| Der of the delegates of the national con-
| ventions have been determined.
| 1t is interesting to note that heretofore
| it has been a comparatively easy matter
to fix upon the representation in the
| House and that unique body, the electoral
| college. The latter body. the like of
which is not found elsewhere, has his
| tory as peculiar as the institution itself
and is closely allied with our history. The
Constitution framed by the deputies of
| twelve of the original states, in 1877,
when the population was about three ana
| a half millions. became effective on its
ratification by nine states
In the latter part OF 1IsS ten of the
states had given their adhesion. This
| instrument provided for the apportlon-
ment OF representation in the House on
a basis of one for every 5000 in the
various states, according to its NUMBERS,
and for making the enumeration WITHIN
three years after the first meeting OF con-
gress and every ten years thereafter
| Until the first enumeration New Hamp-
lol n MASSACHUSETTS,
eight, Rhode Island one, Connecticut hve.
New York six, New Jersey four, Penn
| syivania eight, Delaware one, Maryland
| six, North Carolina five, South Carolina
| five and Georgia three, total of sixty
| five.
Makeup of College.
Provision was also made for the SEN
ators from each state. and the electoral
college was constituted of an equal num-
Der of delegates to the senators and rep
resentatives. The delegates to the col
lege, however, were to be other than
members of Congress or officers of gov
eminent. When the votes of the electors
for the first term were returned there
were sixty-nine. New York had ratified
the Constitution, but did not vote, owing
to her electoral machinery not having
been perfected. North Carolina did not
atty until the May following and Rhode
Island not until May, 1880. In this col
lege the entire sixty-nine were for WASH
ington, and ADAMS was chosen vice
President, having the next NUMBER CT
votes.
The apportionment basis on the census
of 1886, when the total population was
3,S3U,OtJ in the fifteen states, hxed the
number of members of the House at loo
on a 5000 basis The electoral college
| ia. ti,,,o IA zach delegate
voting two names, the highest eiectins
President and the next highest the
Vice President. Gen. Washington was
unanimously reelected and John Adams
was chosen Vice President. The thlrd
college, in 1877, was composed of 1:S9 dele
gates, representing sixteen states. John
Adams was elected President, receiving
seventy-one votes. and Thomas JEFFERSON
Vice President, receiving s1Xty-elght
votes.
College Failed to Elect.
In the fourth contest, 1901, there was a
failure to elect through the college. which
numbered l3S votes for sixteen states.
jefferson and Aaron Burr each received
seventy-three votes, John Adams sixty
| five and C. c. Pinkney sixty-four. The
| returns were then sent to the House or
Representatives. where the voting was by
states, thirty TC4uhNo' AZ
change took place until on the last ballot !;
then the vote of ten states made Mr.. JET
ferson President, Mr.. Burr becoming vice
President An amendment providing for
distinct ballots being cast Tor PRESIDENT
and Vice President was proposed and
ratified by a sufficient number OF state
legislatures.
The census of 1900 showed population
of over 5,3CO,OOO and the basis of repre-
sensation remained at $4,000, the number
Inyr ants ives hainp fftn
college, in 1906. there were 176 votes, rep
resenting seventeen states Mr.. Jefferson
was reelected, receiving 162 votes, as did
Mr. Clinton of New York for Vice Presi-
dent. to IA cast for C. c. Pinkney of
| South Carolina and Rufus King of New
| York. In the college of 1909 there were
| 1T5 votes, OF which James Madison re-
ceived 122, and Gen. Clinton was again
elected Vice President. In 1913, of the
PIT votes in the electoral college. rep
| resenting eighteen states, Mr.. Madison
received 12S votes and was elected, ana
| Eibridge Gerry was elected Vice Presi-
dent. The appOrtionment under the census
| of 1910 showed population or over
| 1000 900, and the representation IN the
House was 1S1, on a basis Of $4,000. In
the next electoral college of 1917 there
were pit electors. who cast lS.s votes
| for James Monroe OF Virginia to "a for
| kins of New York being elected Vice
President. In the college of 1921 there
We're 30 electors. and Mr.. Monroe re-
| ceived 81 and John Quincy Adams one
vote.
| In the census Of 1920 a population of
| over 9,JOOOOO was shown and 240 rep
/ resentatives were appOrtiOned to the
| twenty-four states. 10000 being the al
\ lowance.
Popular Vote for Electors
There was a radical change in the next
| contest, in 1872. For the first time there
| was popular election for the presiden-
tial electors. who had previously been
chosen by the legislatures of the states.
Then there were twenty-fOur states and
| PSI electoral votes, while there were
| over 100000 voters. The candidates We're
| Andrew Jackson, who received over 150.-
| 900 votes, and 90 in the college; John
| Quincy Adams, over 10000, with 81 in
| 0ockN