The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-02-06
Of
LOWER HOUSE
LIVE QUESTION
(By Associated Press

II WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Shall the
representatives be increased?
This question has arisen in connec-
ton with preliminaries that are now
being made to take the fourteenth cen
sus of the United States in 1920.
The next census is certain to show
an increase of many millions of peo-
pie in the United States as compared
with the census of 1910 Therefore
one of two things must be done
the unit of congressional representa-
ton must be enlarged and each mem
Der of the house must represent more
folks in congress or the total number
of members OF the lower branch of
congress must be largely increased
Representative Harvey Helm of Ken
lucky, chairman of the committee on
the census, in which all legislation
affecting the apportionment of repre-
sentatives must originate, said:
81 am opposed-uncomprom
| opposed-to any increase in the mem
bership of the house OF representa-
tives. It now has 435 members, and
that is too many. While | realize the
difficulties in the way of bringing
about a reduction in the membership
of the house, which would be accom-
plished only by legislating some of
the members out of office, l do feel
that the house never should have been
made as large as it is today. 1t is too
large and unwieldy to transact theI
public business satisfactorily. There
| will be no increase in the house FOIL
lowing the next census except over my
most vigorous opposition"
Many members feel about it just as
| Chairman Helm does, and yet it is rec
ognized that there will be a terrible
demand from many states to increase
their representation in the house, on
the theory that by so doing they will
Increase their prestige in the halls of
! legislation.
There are certain possibilities of
sectional controversy in the situation.
If the unit of representation remains
as it is now the increase of member
ship of the house will fall largely to
states of the North, and especially to-
| the industrial sections where the in
crease of population has been the
greatest during the last ten yesgs,
Very few Southern states would share
in the increase, and this would serve
to enhance the power of the North
in congress.
Apportionment Since 1890
The first appOrtionment under the
United States constitution created al
house of representatives of 65 mem.
bers, and the house has grown with
successive censuses as follows:
First census, 179O-106 members.
Second census, 18OO-142 members.
Third census. 1810-186 members.
Fourth census, 1S20-213 members.
Fifth census, 183O-242 members.
Sixth census, 1840-232 members.
Seventh census, 1S5O-237 members.
Eighth census, 1860-243 members.
Ninth census, 1870-293 members.
Tenth census, 1880-332 members.
Eleventh census, 1890-35S membersI
Twelfth census, 19O0-391 members.
Thirteenth census, 1910-435 MEM
bers.
!. 1t will be observed that the growth
of membership has been steady since
the government was founded except
in 1910, when there was a setback.
Chairman Helms of the census com
mittee is now preparing the bills nee
essary to provide for taking the four
teenth decennial census-the most
mammoth census undertaking ever at
tempted in any country. He estimates
that it will cost $4,000, 900 to take the
forthcoming census, and that between
| 10000 and $4,000 persons will be en-
ployed. A period of three years will
be allowed within which to do the
work, beginning July l, 1919, and end
ing July /, 1922. An army of clerks
will be required, but most of the en-
ployes will be enumerators whose com.
pensation will be based on the num-
Der of persons enumerated by each
The actual field work of taking the
census will begin in January, 1920,
instead of in April, as has been the
case in former census years.
Sweaters have been Skinned IN the