Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-02
DECENNIAL PROBLEM
IS FACING CONGRESS
Increase of House Membership, Already
Unwieldy, Deemed Probable Under 1920
Census-Now Under Discussion.

parties. Ten years ago the fight was
led by Senators Elihu Root Of New
York and Theodore Burton of Ohio.
who protested vigorously against the
increase from 3s1. Senator Burton
then asserted that 1.-The larger the
size Of the House, the greater the
disposition to assert local interests
and to increase the size Of the pork
barrel"
Champ Clark now says: II do not
have any doubt about what ought
to be done about the size OF the
House. 1t is too big. There ought to
be constitutional amendment passed
fixing the number of members at 800.
or thereab bouts, and keeping it there"
This sentiment was vigorously ap-
plauded. showing that the members
as whole realize that the member
ship is altogether too large for bust
nesslike procedure. Representative
Philip Campbell Of Kansas. chairman
of the rules committee which passes
on all resolutions. Endorsed this SEN
timent and recalled that ten years
ago he initiated a movement to have
the House membership restricted to
225.
Representative Simeon D. Fess of
Ohio. chairman Of the republican con-
gressional committee. also agreed
with Mr.. Clark that "the solution Is
to fix the number in the Constitution.
otherwise we will have this matter
argued every ten years"
what Reduction Would Mean.
Reduction in the number of House
members with a constantly growing
population would mean that the men,
beers of Congress would have larger
districts. with more constituents to
care for and somewhat more patron
age.
In discussing this matter of con-
gressional reapportionment Champ
Clark brought this thought to the at
tention Of his colleagues: THE last
time the membership was increased
BY "A, and one Of the strangest facts in
history was'that the great agricultural
states Of Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa. Ken
lucky, Tennessee. Mississippi. Missouri,
Kansas and Nebraska never gained
enough population under that census
to get any Of the new members. 1t
is a fact well worth the thought OF
Congress as to how the very heart OF
the continent is developing.
The prospective increase of SO mem
bers, as a rebuilt Of the present CEN
sus, is calculated by states. as fol-
lows: Alabama, 2: Arkansas. 2; Cali
fornia, 4; Colorado. I; Connecticut. I;
Florida, 1; Georgia, 2: Illinois, 3: In
diana, 1; Kansas, 4; Louisiana, 1;
Maryland, l: Massachusetts,. 2: Michi-
gan, 2; Minnesota, 1; Mississippi, 2;
New Jersey, 3: New Mexico. 1: New
York, 8; North Carolina, 2; North Da-
kota, 1; Ohio. 3: Oklahoma, 4: Oregon.
/: Pennsylvania, s; South Carolina. 1;
South Dakota. /; Tennessee. l; Texas.
4: Virginia. 1; Washington. 8; West
Virginia, /, and Wisconsin,. l.
Comparison With Other Countries.
Even though the size of the House
House leaders say. I'VE have here
more than we need to transact the
business Of the country" yet con-
gressmen also recognize that I'VE have
the smallest popular House in any
enlightened nation on earth" For ex-
ample. the house of commons has 709
members, but it takes only forty to
constitute quorum. while the United
States House cannot change the num-
Der constituting q quorum except by
constitutional amendment. The Brit
ish house Of commons has a seating
capacity of only little moro than 400.
because the members seldom come in
full force.
Belgium. with a population Of 7.433.-
784, has one representative for each
10000 persons. or 1856. = France has a
population Of 3s.602.25s. with 602
members in the chamber of deputies,
each representing $3.50 persons.
Greece has a representative for each
5000, or 1874 members. in the national
legislature. Italy has sos deputies.
one for each 1000. Switzerland has
1879 representatives, one for every
10000 population.