Evening star., 1919-11-16


bers. the size then. This would have
meant more constituents for each
congressman. and also more patron
age and increase in the burdens of
serving his people. AS it was finally
| worked out. the districts were in
| creased in average population be-
yond their size as fixed by the census
Of 1900.
II Uncle Sam would stop growing
there might be some hope of relief;
but he has grown fifteen or more
million people since 1910. and almost
the same situation is promised by the
1920 census as ten years ago. The
population Of the United States July
1. 1919, as estimated by the census
bureau. was 106.S71.294. and it is safe
| to assume that this will be in the ap-
proximatet neighborhood Of the ac-
| tual population, il not too small.
when the census figures are known.
If the reapportionment is based on
the membership of 435 the future
congressional district will contain an
averagesof 245,6s1 people, as compared
with 211.430 under the last appor-
tionment. Using this average CAS-
6S1) as a ratio. and following the
rule of majority fractions" which
has generally prevailed in determin-
ing the number of representatives, it
is found that the following ten states
would lose thirteen members Of the
House:
Would Lose Seats.
Indiana, Iowa and Missouri, two
each; Illinois. Kentucky, Maine, Mary
land, Nebraska, Vermont and Virginia.
one each. 1t is worth noting that In
diana. Iowa, Missouri. Maine and
Virginia were among the thirteen
states which would have lost mem
bers ten years ago if the House had
not been increased
The fact, on the other hand, that
eight states would gain eleven mem
bers. will not alieviate the sufferings
Of the losers, or make their fight
against curtailment less determined
California, Oklahoma and Washington
would gain two each, and New Jersey.
New Mexico, New York, Oregon and
Texas, one each.
1t would not be surprising to see
Congress work the problem out as
before-increase the membership of
| the House. They have grown ac-
customed to big figures since 1910.
Some members then wanted to make
increases. Perusal of debates reveals
/ real fear that the House of Repre-
| sentatives would be made larger in
| the next decennial.
Difficulties of Seating.
For one thing, the increase then
meant giving up the old individual
desks in which members kept their
pens, pipes. paper. speeches and what
not. The very subtle argument was
| offered that by putting in tiers of
seats the representatives would be
brought into closer fellowship. AS a
when all are present and there are
twenty seats too few on the floor of
the House at present. which means
bringing reserve chairs in on special
occasions. Elliott Woods, superin-
tendent of the Capitol, says another
increase can be handled by narrowing
the seats.
To take care Of all states that
might lose members makes it neces-
sary to keep congressional districts
near the present size. or about 211.430.
This would involve an addition of
sixty-nine members for thirty-three
states. or a grand total Of 504 II the
population is 106.S11,294. On such
have an increase:
Alabama, 2; Arkansas. 2; California.
4; Colorado, /; Connecticut. 1; Flor
ida, 1; Georgia, 2; Illinois. 3; Indiana.
/; Kansas, 1: Louisiana, 1; Maryland,
1; Massachusetts,. 2; Michigan, 2; Min
nesota, 1; Mississippi. 2; New Jersey.
3; New Mexico, 1; New York, s; North
Carolina, 2; North Dakota, 1; Ohio. 3
Oklahoma, 4; Oregon, 1; Pennsylvania:
6: South Carolina, /; South Dakota.
Tennessee, 1: Texas, 4; Virginia, !
Washington. 8; West Virginia. 1. and
Wisconsin. 1.
Small Body Comparatively.
Even should the House Of Repre-
sentatives jump to 504, it would con-
tinue to rank as one of the smallest
similar bodies, in proportion to pop
ulation, of the world powers.
The British house Of commons has
total of 700, Of which about $50
is said to be voting strength. This
is one for each 65,016 of population.
recently estimated at 45.516.269.
Belgium, with a population of T.
423.7S4, has one representative for
each 10000 people, or 1s6.
France has a population estimated
at 39,602,25S and every $3.50 per-
sons are represented in the chamber
of deputies. whose membership is 6o2
Greece. with population of p
765, ,OO0 has a representative for each
$1,000. or 1874.
Italy has sos deputies, one to each
1900, the total population being
36.12o,11s.
Switzerland, with a population OF
1897 900, has 1S9 representatives., o"
one in every 10000.
Back in 1890 the United States had
one representative for every 37,06S.
or a total of LOG congressman. The
growth has been slow and gradual
since then, as set forth in the COM
pilation below:
Number Average
Census Of repre- Total size OF
ysas seutatses psps:at,1n' Qua ion d'sif1ss sa nss
ism !3o 53OS 4S3 1888
1SIO lsG 1895 ssl 3s924
Isaso , 2l3 s63s 453 1881
GQn ON