Evening star., 1919-11-16
HOUSE SOON TO FACE
MEMBERSHIP PROBLEM
Next Years Census Will Call for Big
Increase Unless Representation
Basis Is ENLARGED.
BY NIXON s. PLUMMER.


TIME membership of the future
House of Representatives is
one of the most perplexing
problems ahead Of lawmakers
on Capitol Hill in the light of an ex-
pected showing of nearly 100000
population by the 1920 census.
The matter is complicated by cir
cumstances that cannot be overlook
ed. Unless the representation for the
next ten years is increased to ap-
proximately 500 members from ABS,
the present number, at least thirteen
congressional districts in ten states
will be wiped off the political map,
willie the average constituency of
each members district will be ex-
panded by more than one-sixth the
size fixed after the census of 1910.
Every decennia1 since 1890 Uncle
Sans growth has been a cause of
worry to members of Congress, and
every time, with the single exception
of 1910, they have elected to increase
the size of the House. That year the
Senate punched the size down from
the Senate at other times to follow
this precedent, but they have never
succeeded. States that were about to
lose representation, through shiftings
OF population and changes in size of
districts have bitterly and success
fully fought curtailment.
When the apportionment bill was
up, following the 1910 census. promi-
nent men at both ends of the Capitol
fought the proposed increase from
391 to 433 (raised to 435 by the addi-
tion of representatives later from
Arizona and New Mexico). Ex-Sena-
tors Elihm Root Of New York and
Theodore Burton Of Ohio tried to keep
the House from growing, their con-
tention being that enlarged member
ship would impair the efficiency Of
legislation.
To Senator Root it meant addition
to "embarrassments which have al
ready been experienced in the work.
ing of the House of Representatives
with the present number of 391." The
larger a deliberative body, he said,
''the more acute is that continued
struggle which is going on in every
popular government, and in every
branch Of every representative sys-
tenn between efficiency and individual
liberty"
Means Bigger "Pork Barrel"
Greater opportunity for machine
a nj 4.
cisms by Senator Burton, but he had
an even sharper reason when he de-
clared that 1.-The larger the size OF
the House of Representatives the
greater the disposition to assert local
interests and to increase the size OF
the pork barrel"
Representative Nelson of Wisconsin
and others of the House asserted with
an air of sincerity that they would
like to see the House reduced to 200
or $50 members, as in the good old
days, when there was more chance
for individual service and action on
committees and public questions. LAS
we increase the membership we oe-
crease the member" Mr.. Nelson COM
planned, and he showed that at that
time each senator (there were ninety
two senators them represented IL
units of legislative power, and the
member of the House 25 per cent the
power of senator. He declared SEN
ator had four times as many oppor-
tunities s a representative, four times
the chance to offer amendments, four
times the chance on committees, four
times the chance to make speech on
the floor. and four times the power
TO enact or defeat legislation
Burden on Taxpayers.
Not a little emphasis was laid on
the increased expense that would rest
on the taxpayers by an enlarged
membership. The added cost was va
riously estimated at from $I5O.OOO to
81, 900, 900 after computing salaries,
mileage, clerk hire, stationery and Of
fees: and there were some who dared
to say that the sum would go much
larger after figuring in the additional
pork" and patronage it would take
to satisfy the new members and their
constituents.
Notwithstanding the opposition. the
House was increased in 1911. and the
one factor controlling the decision
more than any other was that thir-