The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-09
CENSUS GIVES
MORE CONGRESS-
SEATSlN WEST
South Also Gains Political
Strength in House and
Electoral College.
FIFTY NEW DISTRICTS
Next Session Must Fix APP
pOrtiOnment Oh New
Basis.
NEW YORK GAINS FOUR
Larger Delegations to Party
Conventions Are Also
Assured.
NEW YORK GAINS FOUR
En- The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON Oct. determination OF
the final census figures of the country,
which place the total population OF the
continental United States at 1o5,6s3,1oS,
indicates that the West and the South
proportionately will gain more in polit-
ical way than the East or Middle west
through increased membership in the
House OF Representatives more votes in
the electoral college and in larger dele
cations to the national political conven-
tions.
This result will obtain whatever basis
of apportionment Is adopted by Congress
next winter fixing the size Of the next
House, which in turn is reflected in the
electoral college and the conventions OF
the big political parties.
AS a result of the increase Of 1910
S42 in population during the last ten
years, fifty new seats must be added TO
the House to prevent any State from
losing any part of its present representa-
ton. Should the present membership OF
ABS be left unchanged by increasing the
basis OF apportionment there viii have
held by twelve States, to nine other
states.
For the last half century the prece-
dent has been to increase the size OF
the House so as to prevent loss OF exist
ing representation by any state AS
result the House has grown from 2fS 10
As members. with only three states
Maine, New Hampshire and vermont
losing one member each in the last fiity
years.
New York May Gain Four Seats.
II this nrecedent is followed this year
five additional Representatives seats
must be given to California, four each
to New York Ohio, Pennsylvania ana
Michigan, three to Illinois and Te%as,
two to Massachusetts, New Jersey ana
North Carolina and one each 10 Ala-
bama Arizona Connecticut. Georgia,
Maryland. Montana, New Mexico oKla-
homa Oregon. South Carolina, Tennes-
sec. washington, West Virginia. Wiscon-
sin. Virginia, Arkansas and Minnesota.
While the present basis OF apporton-
rnent Is 211s77 inhabitants or It's major
fraction to the Congressional district
Congress can increase the basis to 2l'.-
APT without causing any loss. TO ad-
vance beyond the latter figure viii mean
that Maine would lose one seat, with the
net result of forty -eight new seats in
Congress.
Congressional leaders are strongly OPP
posed to any large increase in the House
as they regard the present membership
Of 435 as too unwieldy. When the House
census committee. headed by Represen-
tative Siegel Of New York, begins con-
sideration of the problem effort viii be
made TO hold down the increase, but
pressure for the increase is expected to
come from the States which would bene-
fit from a larger House.
By holding the House membership TO
AS gains would be distributed with
three to California, two TO Michigan and
Ohio and one each TO Connecticut, rev
Jersey. North Carolina, Oklahoma. Texas
and Washington. To offset these gains
Missouri would be forced 10 lose two
congressman. while Indiana, Iowa, Kan
sas Kentucky. Louisiana, Maine, Mis-
sissippi. Nebraska, Rhode Island. YER
qnont and Virginia would lose one each
All other States would retain their pres
ent numerical delegations in Congr sss.
On Ba.is of 21O,5s3.
AZ the last session OF Congress some
Republican leaders expressed opposition
10 any change in the House that would
he of profit TO the South. However. the
new census does not indicate that the
South can DO affected without corre-
spending effect on States where the Re-
publicans might not be inclined to re-
duce the delegations
BY fixing the apportionment basis 80
Tint Maine and Missouri would each lose
one seat the increased population OF
the country as represented in Congress
can be absorbed by n net increase or
fwcnty-seven seats. The superintendent
basis then would be 2ie,5SS or major
fraction. and seventeen States woulf
absorb the net increase az also the two
seats lost by Maine and Missouri These
gains would be distributed with Cali
fornia getting four: Michigan. Ohio and
New York, three; Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Texas. two. and Arkansas,
Connecticut. Georgia, Illinois, Massachu-
setts. New Mexico. North Carolina
Oklahoma, Washington and Wisconsin
one each.
Il may be decided TO hold the net in
crease TO less than score. which might
be accomplished by causing Missouri 90
lose two seats. and Iowa, Kentucky
Maine and Indiana one each. The APP
portionment basis would be 234947 In
habitants to the Congressional district
with n net increase OF fourteen in the
size OF the House.
swing Toward Pacific Coast.
Regardless OF the apportionnent basis
tho swing In political power VIII De nrst
toward the Pacific coast and the Rocky
Mountain states. followed BY the South
tho East and the middle West. Califor-
MAS big gain In inhabitants IN the last
ten years accounts for most OF the
swing toward the coast
While the census showed for the first
time in the history of the country that
che farm TO city movement OF popula-
ton has resulted in the last ten years In
the cities gaining the majority Of popula-
zion, the increase OF strictly city MEM
hers in Congress probably will not be
great. Confined strictly TO the city
boundaries only four Of the big centres
nf population---New York, Chicago.
philadelphia and Dctrolt--seem entitled
70 more members in the House than at
present
The problem OF individual districts
however. In not one with which Congress
concerns itself The Congressional APP
portionment Is made by states. and
when completed the fight over the dis
trict boundaries within state Is shifted
20 the state Leglsla lures. There, il Is
expected will come the controversy be-
tween the city and the rural districts
gor control OF House seats.