The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-10-14
SOUTH GAINS III HOUSE
THROUGH CENSUS FIGURES
West Shares Advantage over East
and Midwest-Tennessee to Gain a
Seat of Precedent Followed.

Seat of Precedent Followed.
I Washington. October 8.-Examin-
alton Of the final census figures Of
the country. which places the total
population of the continental United
States at 105683,109 indicates that
the West and the South proportion
ately will gain more in political 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 con-
yentions.
This result will obtain what ever
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 49,
| 710,S42 in population during the last
10 years. 80 new seats must be ad-
ded to the House to prevent any state
from losing any part of its present
representation. Should the present
membership Of 435 be left unchanged
by increasing the basis Of apportion-
| me"t there must be a transfer of Is
seats now held by II states to nine
other states.
ONLY once-in 1840-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
with three to California, two to
Michigan and Ohio and one each to
Connecticut, New Jersey, North Caro-
lima Oklahoma. Texas and Washing
ton TO offset these gains Nilsson, i
would be forced to lose two congress
men. while Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Kentucky, Louisiana. Maine, Missis-
sippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Ven
mont and Virginia would lose one
each. All other states would retain
their present numerical delegations n
Congress.
At the last session Of Congress
Some Republican leaders expressed
opposition to aw change in the House
FRAT would be 81 profit to the South
The new census. however does no.
indicate that the South can be af'
recked without corresponding effect
- states where the Renubllcan'
might not be inclined to reduce tn
delegations,
By fixing the apportionment sbasl'
50 that Maine and Missouri woult
each lose one seat, the increased popu
gation of the country as represented
in Congress can he absorbed by
net increase Of q seats. The ap
portionment basis then would b.
219,5S3, or major fraction, and i
states would absorb the net increase
a. also the two seats lost by Maine
and Missouri. These gains would b.
distributed with California gettinl
four Michigan, Ohio and New Yorl
three: Pennsylvania, New Jersey AM
Texas two, and Arkansas, Connect
cut, Georgia. illinois, Massachusetts
New Mexico, North Carolina, Okla
b6ma Washington and WisconSI
one each. u
Bv eliminating Wisconsin from IN
states gaining one, seat and by addmf
Iowa to those losing one, the appor
tionnent basis might BE- placed g
$40 0o6. or major fraction, and thl
would give a net increase Of 70 Il
the House membership
It may be decided to hold the ne
increase to less than a score, which
might be accomplished by causing
Missouri to lose two seats, and Iowa
Kentucky Maine and Indiana one
each. The apportionment basis would
he .234.947 inhabitants to the cor
oressional district with net increase
Of IA in the size Of the House. These
seats and those lost by Missouri
Iowa Kentucky, Maine and indiana
would be- distributed as follows:
California. A; Michigan and Ohio
8: Texas. 2, and Connecticut. Illinois
New Jersey New Mexico, Oklahoma
Pennsylvania and Washington. | each
Regardless of the apportionment
basis, the swing in political poweT
viii be first toward the Pacific coast
and the Rocky mountain states, fol
lowed hv the South, the East and the
Middle West. CALIFORNIA; big gain
| in inhabitants in the last 10 years
accounts for most Of the swing to-