The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-10-15
INCREASED MEMBERSHIP OF
HOUSE.
Political Effect OF The Census Report
Is Shown To Be Considerable.

Is Shown To Be Considerable.
Examination of the final census
figures of the country which place.
the total population of the CONT
mental United States at 1O5,6S3,1OS
indicates that the West and the
South proportionately will gain more
in a political way than the East or
Middle West through increased men,
bership in the House of Representa-
tives, more votes in the electoral col
lege and in larger delegations 70 the
national political conventions.
This result will obtain whatever
basis of apportionment is adopted b.
Congress next winter fixing the size
of the next House, which in turn i
reflected in the electoral college and
the conventions of the big politica
parties.
AS a result of the increase OF 49,
| 710,842 in population during the last
10 years, SO new seats must be add
ed to the House to prevent any State
from losing any part of its present
representation. Should the prasen
membership of 435 be left unchanged
by increasing the basis of apportion
ment there will have to be transfer
of 13 seats, now held by II States, TIC
nine other States.
For the last half century the pre-
cedent has been to increase the size
of the House so as to prevent loss o
existing representation by any State
AS result, the House has grown
from 243 to 435 members with only
three States, Maine, New Hampshire
and Vermont, losing one member
each in the last SO years.
If this precedent is followed this
year five additional representatives
seats must be given in California,
four each for New York, Ohio, Tenn
sylvania and Michigan; three to Illi-
nois and Texas, two to Massachu-
sets, New Jersey and North Caro-
lima and one each to Alabama, Ari
IONA, Connecticut, Georgia, Mary
land, Montana, New Mexico, Okla
homa, Oregon, South Carolina, Ten
nessee, Washington, West Virginia
Wisconsin, Virginia, Arkansas anc
Minnesota.
While the present basis OF appor-
tionment is 211,S77 inhabitants or
it's major fraction to the Congress
sional district, Congress can increase
the basis to 219,427 without causing
any loss. To advance beyond the
latter figure will mean that Maine
from The States which would beneht
of 48 new seats in Congress.
Congressional leaders are strongis
opposed tc any large increase in The
House as they regard the present
membership of 435 as too unwieidy
When the House Census Committee,
headed by Representative Siogei OF
New York, begins consideration O.
the problem, effort will be made to
hold down the increase, but pressure
for the increase is expected to come
from the States which would benefite
from a larger House.
Only once-in 1S40-has the size
of the House been reduced At one
other time, just before the Civil War
| the apportionment was held down
with the resulting loss of seats fall
ing most heavily on the Southern
States.
By holding the House membership
to 435 gains would be distributed
thus: Three to California, two to-
Michigan and Ohio and one each tt
Connecticut, New Jersey, North Car
DINA, Oklahoma, Texas and Wash
ington. To offset these gains, Mis-
souri, would be forced to lose two
congressman, while indiana, Iowa
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Name
Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island
Vermont and Virginia would lose oneI
each. All other States would retainl
their present numerical delegations
in Congress.
At the last session of Congress
some Republican leaders expressed
opposition to any. change in the
House that would be of profit to thel
South. However, the new censusl
does not indicate that the South car
be affected without a corresponding
effect on States where the Republi-I
cans might not be inclined to reduce
the delegations.