Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-20
SACREDNESS OF JOBS

\IIDRp comes from Washington that the
w caucus ot Republican members Of the
House of Representatives has decided to
pass II congressional rcapportionment bill at
.thC present session.
This is good news The Legislatures of
large majority Of the states meet this winter.
If Congress rcapportions the membership of
the House it will be possible for the state
Legislatures to make the rcapportiOnment of
the districts before they adjourn. Other
wise they will have to wait until 1923.
II is not good news however. that the
prevailing sentiment among the members of
'ne House tavors an increase in the member
ship. The House is large enough already.
II has grown to such size that the cham
Der in which it meets cannot well acIommo-
date any more But even ii there were room
enough in the chamber. til" membership
cannot be increased without increasing the
difficulties in the way of doing business. II
consideration were given only to preserving
the efficiency OF the House. the proposition
to enlarge its membership would be rejected
forthwith
The Washington reports. however Indicate
that the members are thinking primarily of
preserving the political status quo in the
states which have not increased in popula
ton since the census of 1910. There is one
representative now for every 21l 900 popu-
Iation. Ii the membership remains un
hanged there would be one representative
for every $4,000 population The states
which have Increased in population would
nav" their representation increased and their
new members would como from Il reduction
in the representation of the states which have
not grown. So in order to prevent the
nec"Ssury r"adjustmcnt Of political rombiua-
ti"n> in few states. it is proposed to make
the llouS" large enough So that the rcprpSen-
tatOn of no state will have TO be reduced
In order 20 do this thirty or forty new rep
rcsrntativcS will be apportioned among the
popuious states Three or four would come
10 Pennsylvania.
Not tie slightest attention is paid to the
need fur economy in the conduct OF the GOV
"!nU"nt Inc creation Of new places is
proposed regardless Of the fact that it will
cost the taxpayers about half a million dol
lars Ii year to pay the salaries and Incl
dental expenses Of the new Jobs
Government apparently exists for the pro
lection Of the johholdcrS and for the creation
"t now jobs for new jobhOlders. The DO.
litical machines must be. protected and sup
ported no matter how heavy the taxes may
be We are having this proved right here
in Pnladelphia, where members Of the Coun.
ell have voted for the lurgc appropriation
LOr tAe support of the Municipal Court
Many Of the councilmen have secured places
for their friends on the payroll Of the court
and II they do not vote the money to pay the
salaries OF these men the men will be dis
missed. 1t does not matter that the court
iS "vrrrrowd"d with retaincrs of political
leaders OF all shades OF beIicf-the Jobs must
be preserved whether there is any need for
tA"m or not. When once 4 job is created it
j. practically impossible to abolish it, And
rh"r" iS nothing easier than 70 create new
jobs
So long AS this condition prevails the cost
# government will continue to mount and
n" burden Of taxation will continue to in
rr"a>" bur som" day political leader will
arise wh" will discover that il is more profit
able for him to conserve the public funds
and r"dH"" tuT"ti"n than to pander to the
desire "f ]"t of undcrlings for IN easy
hrrth DitA good nay. Then he will b"vc
ruh" Business done wirh some approxima
ZION toward the economy with which private
business is carried on