Evening star., 1916-11-11
The Narrow House Margin.

Present reports give the republicans
one more assured seat in the next House
of Representatives than the democrats,
the tally now standing at PIG repub-
heans, 214. democrats, 4 Independents
and l doubtful. This doubtful district
is in New Mexico, and has lately been
represented by republican, but the
count as now reported favors the demo
cratic candidate Should this district be
carried by the democrats they will have
2l5 seats, or one less than the repub-
licans. Should the republicans carry it
they will have 217 against PA. Much
depends upon this New Mexico seat, as
if it goes to the republicans it will in
crease the difficulties of the democrats
in securing sufficient votes from the in
dependents to obtain the control. In
Aed. with this district republican, the
democrats must get all four of the in
dependents to vote with them to obtain
a bare majority of one. Should the dis
triet go democratic, leaving the repub-
lcans with plurality of one, the demo-
Gratis could obtain control only by get
ting three of the independent votes.
In any analysis of the situation, short
of an upsetting of the present returns,
the Independents will control the next
House. Of these four men. two are of
democratic inelinations, one from New
York and one from Louisiana. One,
from Minnesota. has republican leaning.
The fourth, new member from BOs-
ton. whose candidacy was announced at
the eleventh hour and who beat an ap-
parently assured republican incumbent,
is a totally unknown quantity. He may
hold the control of the next House in
his hands.
In the alignment of the independents
it is natural to expect disposition to
affiliate with the party in control of the
Senate and the administration, making
for uniformity of legislative power and
responsibility. If this disposition pre-
walls in the organization of the next
House the democrats will control.
These calculations may be entirely
upset by the Intervention Of death be-
tween now and the convening of the
next Congress. In a membership of 435
mortalities are to be expected from time
to time. 1t is the usual experience that
in each session of the House several
members pass away. Should any of the
newly elected members die between now
and the day of assembling the control
Of the House may shift from one side
to another. This consideration may op-
crate for an extra session to assure the
earliest possible assemblage and organi-
ration of the House, in reduction of
Che chances Of the Intervention of death.
Immediately upon the organization of
the House contests will undoubtedly be
liied from a number Of districts, prepa-
1ations to that end having already been
made. But these contests cannot be
settled until after the House has elected
n Speaker and named its committees, so
that whoever controls at the outset has
majority jurisdiction over the contests
II usually happens that these contests
especially in a close Congress, are de.
termined more or less in accordance
With the party control. In any case
whoever organizes the House and what
ever the margin of control, every mem
ber viii need to be strictly faithful in
attendance and in voting from the be.
ginning of the session to the end.