Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-02-27
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D. c.
INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT
Membership of the House.
BY u. s. Press Association,
Bond Bldg, Washington, d. G.

membership VI Jhe HOubt'
When the new apportionment was
made in 1911, Congress was fully
aware of the danger of increased
membership, and in the debate much
stress was laid upon the fact that in
dividual freedom existed to greater
degree in the earlier Congresses I'M
der limited membership than has
been the case since the civil war. The
committee report of the House in
creasing the membership from 386 to
435 admitted that "the danger of
domination of the House by a parli-
mentary or political machine or clique
increases In measure with the in
crease in membership, but if that
condition ever becomes so grave as to
be real menace to the individual free
dom of representatives, and the rep
FesentatiYe character of the House, a
remedy will come in an improved
method Of parliamentary procedure.
The committee that made that re-
port knew when they signed such a
elf-cOntradictory document that they
were, to put 1t very mildly stretching
the truth to the limit. Their real rea-
son for running the chances upon the
remedy" being found in the division
of ian improved method Of parlimen-
tary procedure. existed in the desire
to prevent any state Of the Union
from losing representation in Con
gress. The report states that under
the plan it had worked out that "n0
state will lose a member" and then
again in the report there was this
statement: 1t IS proper to say in this
connection that a membership of 433
in the House Of Representatives is the
lowest number that will prevent any
state from losing a Representative. "
1t should be explained that the APP
portionment took into consideration
representation from the new states of
New Mexico and Arizona so that sub
sequently the membership of the
House became 435.
Following the debate covering the
legislation whereby the membership
of the House was increased, it is no.
ticeable that great deal of stress
was laid upon the point touched upon
In the committee report and there was
general recognition of the fact that
the danger of domination of the
house by a parliamentary machine or
clique" necessarily increases with
the membership of the house. And
yet, hardly member of the house
from states whose membership might
be decreased, was to be found who
did not favor the proposition for 1876
members. In the same manner mem
beers from states which by the read
justment could add one or two extra
Representatives to the state delega-
ton, were enthusiastic for the pro-
posed change, and helped to make it.
Asa matter of fact, beyond question.
the Congress that in 1911 increased
the membership of the house, knew
and this statement applies to almost
every individual member-that the
result could not help but mean A
strengthening Of party control or
domination "by a parliamentary or
political machine or clique" and vet
these men, while admitting frankly
among themselves that they were do
ing great wrong 20 the country, de-
hberately increased the membership.
Any member of the House with any
experience, must and will admit, that
III proportion as the membership of
the house has increased, that legisIa-
tive body has become less efficient If
is a logical consequence and II is PRO
ven every day by the difference in the
methods by which the Senate con.
duets its business with ninety-six
members. And yet even In that body
there Is a continual light against
domination by political parties or
cliqes, While there are plenty of mat
tiers in connection with the Senate
that are open to criticism. vet the
rules give every opportunity for free
dom Of debate, and for the individual
member to make his views known to
his colleagues and to the country.
Former Representative Pickett of
Iowa, although coming from state
that would lose in it's representation
without an increase in the numerous
increase of Congress, opposed such A
measure and gave substantially the
same views as have been outlined
above In referring to the problems
under the system of rules he recalled
speech by Speaker Champ Clark de-
livered at Elgin. Illinois. on October
40. 1909. as follows:
The Republican party is supposed
TO have a majority in Congress. The