The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-03
O'GORMAN'S FORMAL SPEECH
THE NEW SENATOR SPEAKS FOR
A LARGER HOUSE.
Favors the Reapperttonmen Bill Because
the House at Present Is or Htgh
Quality-Other Nations Have Big
HOuses-ROOt and Burton oppose.

EavOfe the Reapp0rttOnment Bill because
the House At Present Is Of = High
Quality-Other Nations Have Big
HOuses-Rost and Burton Oppose.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2.-The reappor-
tionment bill increasing the membership
Of the House OF Representatives from 39i
to ass, which il the unfinished business
before the Senate. was called up this after
noon by Senator Shively Of Indiana.
Senator O'Gorman OF New York took the
floor and made the opening argument in
support OF the bill.
This was Senator O'Gorman's first
speech in the Senate and his argument
was followed with keen interest by every
ono in the chamber. There was nothing
aoout the manner Of delivery to indicate
the jurist. for although the speech was
read it was read with considerable en-
phasis and some rhetorical effect.
The Democratic Senator from New Y York
paid high tribute to the present House Of
Representatives. whose record he said
people. He continued:
Il am frank to say that would be op-
posed to this bill IL the conditions prevail
ing in the Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth Con-
gresses we're to continue. but the present
House has justified the confidence OF the
people. II will be known in the history
Of American egislation as body that has
been responsive to the needs OF the
nation"
The Senator discussed the effect Of the
proposed increase in the House member
ship upon the size Of the next electoral
college. which will be increased by 1902
members. but insisted this was no argu-
ment a gainst the bill. The representative
quality OF the House was more important
than its size. he contended.
.Other nations with less population
than the United States believe in very
much larger parliaments," said Senator
O'Gorman. "The United Kingdom with
Al 600 900 people has Parliament Of $40
members Austria with a population OF
20 900 900 has $40 members in it's Parlia-
ment. France with 80. 900 900 Of people has
a Parliament OF 5s4 members. and Italy
with only 80 .ooo. 900 Of people has sos
Mr.. O'Gorman reminded his collea gues
that while the reapportionment affected
the House only the Senate had more
than a passive interest in the matter.
He declared that it was the duty OF the
Senate to see to IL that the House was sus-
TIMED s s0r! sSoua s s s
without delay he said in conclusion.
senator Root in a vigorous speech
registered his opposition to the proposed
bin The Senator's principal objection
to the bill was that House OF Represent
too large and un~ieldy to be effective.
He said that all large bodies had demon
strated that ss they Increased in members
they suffered in the matter OF individual
representation. Control OF the body soon
passed from the hands OF the people 8
became centred in an "oligarchy.'
Recently We have seen popular
revolution against this Capitalization OF
power in the House" said the Senator
THE proposed increase is to serve the
interest OF the politicians in the States
who do not want their respective districts
disturbed. Is it possible that Senators
are willing to subordinate their honest
Judgment as to what is for the best
interests OF the country to the local
political interests OF few legislative
districts or a few gentlemen who don't
want their districts disturbed or their
States representation reduced by one lest
they be left at homer"
The Senator reminded his colleagues
that they had an obligation to act for
what they believed to be right regardless
of courtesy" for the House. He declared
that four-flfths Of the Senate believed
the pending bill was faulty. But they
preferred TO yield "a a matter Of courtesy
to the House TO regulate tho size of its
membership.
increase in the House membership said
the House was at present too large. he
urged the possibilities Of machine domi'
nation. confusion and loss OF efficiency
Of a large representative body. He
quoted at length from debates of the
past over reapportionment bills, and
quoted extracts from speeches by Senator
Silas Wright Of New York. John c. Cal
houn Of South Carolina and Mr.. Buchanan
later President OF the United States. A
disproportionste increase In the mem,
bership of the House, he said. threatened
the balance provided by the Constitution
to the actions and authority Of the two
houses Of Congress. The larger the mem
bership OF Q legislative body said he the
fewer the men who would in reality direct
the course Of legislation.