The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-02
Speaker Fights Proposed Ap-
pOrtiOnment Bill
CAUCUS WILL DECIDE PLAN
Crumpacker Offers Bill which VIII
Add Many to House Membership,
But Cannon and Regulars
Oppose 1t
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY

BY WATTERSON STEALEY
Washington, February /. (SpeciaD.-
Whether there shall be any re-apportion-
ment legislation during this session of
congress, and If so, it's character may
pe determined at the republican caucus
to be held tomorrow night for the ex-
press purpose of discussing these ques~
TONS 1t is the plan of Speaker Cannon
and his closest friends in the big New
York, Pennsylvania and Illinois delega-
tons at this caucus to bind the repub-
packer plan for a house of 435 members
in subsequent congress. Strong efforts
will be made to have the caucus declare
In favor of house of S99 members. Elk
elusive of Arizona and New Mexico,
which would each have one member un-
der either plan, the Crumpacker bill
would call for house of 433 members
and the alternative plan of the speaker
for a house of 397 members.
The Crumpacker bill has been favorably
reported by the census committee and
is based upon the argument that no state
should be robbed of any of its present
strength in the house. In other words,
under the Crumpacker plan. the repre-
sentation was fixed as the smallest num-
ber possible to be used without some
state losing member. In order to do
this "A members would have to be ad.
ded on the basis of one member for each
init of 2l1,S77 inhabitants.
Cannon In Not Pleased
This plan did not please Speaker Can
non or the republican leaders in the New
York. Pennsylvania and Illinois delega-
ions The Empire state republicans are
particularly strong in their objections to
II and have also been anxious to throw
over the whole subject until the next
session in the hope that the republicans
may meanwhile obtain control of tho
New York legislature and maintain the
present gerrymander.
Strong standpat influences in the house
have been contending that the house
should not be enlarged. They have been
using every effort to urge members to
hold the size of the house down to its
present membership of S91. This was not
satisfactory to the Illinois delegation
which would lose one seat on such a
membership. Speaker Cannon Is opposed
to that plan. Various propositions have
been tentatively discussed but the one
which the speaker, and a majority of the
members in the New York, Illinois and
Pennsylvania delegations will endeavor to
have adopted tomorrow night Is the plan
for house of 397 members without Ari-
zona and New Mexico, or 399 members
when those territories are admitted.
Hand of the Speaker
The fine Italian hand of the speak
er is seen In this plan. 1t so hap
pens that 397 Is the smallest House
membership that can be used without
reducing the Illinois membership from
25 members to "a members. If the
membership is placed at 396 then IL
linois would have to lose seat. Ii
this plan Is forced through the caucus
then it will mean that the speakers s
friends intend to urge the House to
adopt a plan. the selection of which
would be based on the fact that II
would save Illinois. Otherwise the ar
gument that the House should not be
increased. If carried out logically to its
conclusion. would mean the retention
of a membership of 391 and in that
event not only Illinois but Ohio would
lose a seat.
The plans of the reactionaries. based
largely on political considerations, are
we'll laid, but are apt to go awry when
the insurgent republicans grasp the
tempted. If the Cannon-Dwigh plan
for 397 members is adopted 10 states
will lose IL seats In the House, while
IL states would gain II seats, leav-
ing net gain of six over the present
membership OF 391. Analysis OF the
result indicates that the states which
will feel these losses the most are
states which are democratic normally
or insurgent republican states. or
states which went democratic in the
last congressional election. If the in
surgents take a stand against the
Cannon-D Dwight plan, as the democrats
are expected to do. then 1t would be
possible for a coalition of democrats
and insurgents to beat the Cannon reg
ulars at their ov4TS game of disregard
ing the report of the census commit
tee.
Crumpacker Seeks Aid
Judge Crumpacker has been canvas
sing the membership and discovers
that the democratic side is rather
strongly In favor of his bill but finds
the drift running against him among
members of his own party. At the
caucus tomorrow night he Will make
stubborn fight for the adoption of his
plan and when the plans ofethe reac-
tionaries are disclosed it is believed
that insurgent republicans attending
the caucus will vigorously oppose the
scheme which the big states of New
York. Pennsylvania and Illinois are
putting forward.
There is a deep political aspect to
the situation The size of the House
when determined may have an import
ant bearing on the next presidential
election. The electoral vote consists
of as MANY electors as there are SEN
ators and representatives in Congress-
Under the Crumpacker plan southern
H. A - "a.
and Louisiana would each have an adj
ditional congressman and consequently
an additional vote in the electoral col
lege. Under the 397 plan they would
have the same representation in the
electoral college while the states or
Missouri. Kentucky. Tennessee. Vir-
ginia and Mississippi would lose six
votes which they now have in the elec-
toral college. The, four insurgent states
of Iowa Nebraska, Kansas and Indiana
would each lose an electoral vote un-
der the Cannon plan and Maine would