New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-03
ROOT OPPOSES 0'CORMAN
New York Senators Clash in Re-
apportionment Debate.
DANGER IN LARGER HOUSE
Senior Member from This State
Points to the Evil of I'm
Wieldy Body.
fFrom The Tribune Rureau.l

Washington. Aug 2.-Senators Root ana
O'Gcrman arrayed themselves against each
other to-day I'm the discussion OF the reap
portionment bill which Is to be voted on py
the Senate tomorrow. II IL probable thas
the measure will pass. as many Senator's
although opposed to the idea of larger
House. arc not disposed to interpose any
objection to the bill passed by the House
itself
Senator Root, in a short speech. attacked
the proposed increase IN the number OF
Representatives after Senator O'Gorman'
In his first Grafton on the Senate Moor hao
spoken i'm favor OF il. On some points the
views OF the two New York Senators were
In direct conflict. Senator OGorman sslo
that the only precedent to JUSTIFY the inter
ference of the Senate in the reapporuoh-
ment plan of the House was the action OF
the Senate IN 1912, when it decreased tie
number provided by the House bill. sem
stor Root pointed out that at the present
! session Of Congress the House had taken
the initiative In passing the hill providing
for tho direct election Of Senators, proper
precedent for the Senate to follow in legis-
latlon concerning only the House.
Senator O'Gorman also pointed to Eng
land and France as countries in when
larger legislative assemblies existed. SEN
stor Root pointed ont that tho conditions IN
those countries differed greatly from those
In the United States, that the lover houses
occupied radically dfferen; relation to
! the enactment of legislation from that OF
he House OF Representatives., and that the
ministries were responsible for initiating
and framing laws.
1T would be unwise and Injurious SAID
Senator Root, ito increase the number OF
the House Of Representatives. That in
crease cannot fail 10 sccentuate and add 10
the embarrassment already experienced in
the working OF the House with the present
number Of SOL II is plain that the larger
the legislative body the more acute is Ger
tain 10 be the struggle between efficiency
and individual liberty
Mr.. Root asserted that as the body be-
came larger il became necessary 10 devise
rules 10 cut off debate and suppress indi-
vtduslity in order 70 achieve any result al
all. and he referred 10 the upheayal by
which Speaker Cannon was deposed an
example Of rebellion against such condi-
lions. With few rules. he said the body
approached the condition of mob, and
there was no wsv out Of the dilemma.
1T is unfortunate" he added that We
have a body in which the representatives
OF tho people Of every district cannot be
heard. We have already reached the point
At which efficiency is irreconcilahle with
freedom on the part Of tho members
1T is now proposed TO make an addition
OF forty-two members. Why? For what
reason? For none whatever except 10 sub
serve the convenience Of politicians from
the states which do not want their rep
resentation Interfered with. It is possible
that Senators OF the United States are will
ing To subordinate their judgment as TO
what is best for the interest OF their coun-
try TO considerations OF the convenience
Of the politicians in few dstricts?'
The wool tariff bill was formally sent to
conference to-day when the following Sen
ate conferrees were named: Messrs. Pen
rose and Culom, regular Republicans; La
Toilette insurgent Republican: Bailey and
Simmons. Democrats. The House confer
ence committee was appointed yesterday.
The conferrees Of the two houses on the
wool bill will hold their first meeting on
Friday morning
The campaign publicity bill also was sent
to conference Senators Dillingham;. Of
Vermont Gamble, OF South Dakota, and
Johnston. OF Alabama. were appointed con-
ferrees The House has already named It's
COnfcrrees