The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-24
SIZE Of HOUSE
SPLITS c. 0. P.
Leaders Can't Agree on Plan to
Increase Membership
To 483.

Republican leaders OF the House
have not finally agreed on any plan
for reapportionment OF representa-
tion in Congress, based on the last
census. which justifies an increased
membership in the House.
Leader Mondell stated today that
the Republican caucus on reapportioH-
ment held last week did not decide
this question. 1t was the belief Of
many Republican members attending
that caucus that a tentative agree
ment to enlarge the House member
ship has reached, through general
agreement that reduced representa-
tion did not seem practicable or pos
sible without a bitter row within the
party.
To hold the House mem he rship at
435, the present number, il will be
necessary under the new census to re-
duce the representation from Maine.
Iowa, Indiana. Missouri. Illinois, and
a few other States. In order to pre-
vent reduction in representation from
Maine and Missouri, ii will be neces-
sary, according to statistics worked
out by Chairman Siegel, of the House
Census Committee. to increase the
House membership to 4S3.
STATES WANT SETTLEMENT.
Most of the House leaders agree
that the problem must be settled st
the present session OF Cangre.s.
There are forty-threS states ,rfkenoli
meetings Of ttAks State lie 6ieaatuFes
this spring. bee ssMfjsinga january and
they are asking that the reapportion-
ment be determined, that they may &c
able to pass the necessary legislation
redistricting their States into the
proper number of Congressional dis
tricts.
State delegations In the House have
been meeting for several days, ana
all of them are planning to present
united and concerted front against
any reapportionment that will reduce
the present representations in Con-
gress from their respective states.
The House Census Committee has been
instructed by the House leaders TO
work out their plan of apportionm ent
and submit it to a later conference "f
Republican members of the House. 1t
is not anticipated that the legislation
finally agreed on in the Republican
conference is to have smooth sailing
through either the House or the SEN
ate.
BALTIMORE WORRIED.
When the Maryland Legislature un-
dertakes, in tn" session OF l92., the
distribution of the states seven rep
resentatives. in preparation for the
Congressional elections to he held
the following November, 1t must
redraw all of the lines. unless IL
elects to make the seventh member
from Maryland representative-at
large, and elect him in tho entire
State. That is unlikely. Moreover,
there is a possibility that the popu-
lation per district prescribed in the
Siegel bill-approNimately 2ls,0OO-
may compel shaping OF the district
lines anew. even ii the seventh mem
Der were elected at large. The pres
ent city districts probably will show
population far in excess OF 219. 600
CARROLL DANGER SPOT.
Carroll county is practically a Re-
publican county. 1t has been going
that way rather regularly. 1t is the
danger spot ordinarily for the Demo-
Gratis in the Second district.
Taking Montgomery out OF the
sixth and putting IL in the Fifth
would give the Democrats a chance
to redeem" that district, especially
if the lower city wards, which are a
part OF the district. were loped on.
Tho Firth district with Montgomery
added and the city wards taken or.
would be composed Of Montgomery,
Howard. Anne Arundel and St. Mary's.
normally Democratic; Calvert and
Charles, Republican, and Prince
Georges, doubtful. And this is just
a sample.