Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1917-01-31
ATTACK inequalities
IN REPRESENTATION
That Exists Between Many
StateS--lnStance Cited.


regular session. will be confronted
with a fight reminiscent of the old
Force Bill" days OF the eighties, Is a
prospect which may be set down as a
certainty, 1t will be substantially a
renewal OF that memorable struggle
between the two big political parties
but 1t will have many added and new
features and will probably evolve
some new lines OF battle.
The Republican party is right now
systematically preparing TO attack
the inequalities of congressional and
electoral representation as between
the Northern and Southern states.
Several days ago, Senator Gallinger
introduced a resolution providing for
a commission to make an inquiry.
Data is being compiled under the di.
rectlon OF the Republican leaders
with which they expect to make the
Nght when the question Is opened in
such Il way that tho fight will be on.
The leaders of the Democratic party
are aware of the preparedness which
ia going on. and while not welcoming
such contest. are getting ready TO
meet II.
The question Mt Issue. Of course is
in the South. and
that sections II resentation based on
Il census which its recorded vote
more surely indicates that II does not
possess. The disproportion between
congressional districts arranged on
population as shown by the census
and The vote cas-, IN Il district If, OF
course. the bas.7 - the charge of the
unequal distribution of congressional
and electoral voting strength as be-
tween the northern section of the
country whore no class Of citizens
to vote IL disfranchised and
the southern states region where dis
Is notorious.
The case Of West Virginia IN char
acteristic and covers tho points at
issue:
Wes. Virginia, which cost 2g3,527
vot . in The recent presidential cleo.
ion has six congressman and eight
votes in the electoral college. South
Carolina, which cast G3,655 votes.
has seven congressman and nine
electoral votes With leas than one
fourth the votes OF West Virginia,
South Carolina has more representa-.
ton and counts for more in the cleo
ton Of President ono voter In
South Carolina has more voice in
the governments than four voters in
West Virginia.
Under The present administration.
West Virginia has contributed sG,153,
"92 in internal revenue to the sup
pet of the government. and receiv
cd $52,270 in federal appropriations.
South Carolina has paid S1,372,S sos in.
IN government appropriations With
the votes but more repre-.
scnIation South Carolina has obtain.
cd nearly ten times az much in gov
ernment expenditures as West Vir.
enia. while paying less than one
fourth as much taxes.
This is but one phase Of the un.
equa distribution Of power Of course
the elemental and basic phase has to
do with the question Of absolute jua.
tice and equality Illustrations Ike
the above. however. could be given
in almost untold number. but thcao
will snflice 10 show what the pros
pcetiye fight over this question has
involved in il.
The controversy is, by no means.
entirely political That is eonspicu-
oas on tho surface Of it. Nor is 1t
racial, although it will have a tendon.
~ TO tend ,hat way when It is stirred
up Il is economic LARGELY under
meath. The states north OF Mason and
D5xon are paying by an Overwhelming
percentage Of the taxes TO run the
government andunder the present
ARRANGEMENT OF things have little to
say about running it. In fact they
have nothing to say 80 far az making
that say effective They are not get
ting. it is the claim their proper share
Of expenditures and consideration at
the hands OF the national govern.
ment. For the most part the consider
alton given them they complain IA
very largely for taxation purposes.
The present revenue bill Is a fair ex.
ample Of that The bull; Of the reve.
nues which it is proposed will be
raised by this bin viii come from
northern states By comparison the
southern states VIII pay but 2 drib of
In. West Virginia viii be hit hard by
In. To many Of he business concerns
il will be hardship which may