New-York tribune., 1920-10-09
South and w est
Make Largest
-
Political Gains
Benefit Under New Census
More Than Other Sections
IN Increasing the Number
of Their Representatives
House May BE Enlarged
Fifty More Seats viii Be
Added if Precedent Of
Half-Century Is Followed

WASHINGTON, Oct g (By The Asso-
ciatod Pres Examination Of the
fnal ceHs-s d-ures of the country
which pl1e the total population of the
contD Dertal United States at O5,683,-
l0S, ! dicates that the West and the
Sou'f prnvor.iouately will gain more
in a Veiitical way than the East or
Midd,e West through increased mem
bership in the House of Representa-
tives, more votes in the Electoral Col
iege and larger delegations to the ma
tional political conventions
This result Will obtain, whatever
basis of apportionmcnt 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 result of the increase of 13,71O,-
S42 in population during the last ten
years, fifty new seats must be added
to the House to prevent any state from
losing any part of its present repre-
sentation. Should the present mem
bership of ABS be left unchanged by in
creasing the basis of apportionment
there will have to be transfer of
thirteen seats now held by twelve
states to nine other states.
Custom to Increase Size of House
For the last half century the prece-
dent has been to increase the size of
the House so as to prevent loss of ex-
listing representation by any state. AS
result, the House has grown from 243
tO 1c,,>- - \ ~,
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont,
losing one member each in the last
fifty years.
If this precedent is followed this
year five additional Representatives
seats must be given to California, four
each for New York, Ohio, PENNSYLVANIA
and Michigan; three to Illinois and
Texas; two to Massachusetts. New Jer-
sey and North Carolina; and one each
to Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut,
Georgia. Maryland, Montana, New Mex
lco, Oklahoma, Oregon South Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Washington, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, Virginia. Arkan-
sas and Minnesota
While the present basis Of appor-
tionment is 1877 Inhabitants or its
major fraction to the Congressional
basis to 2l9,427 without causing any
loss. To advance beyond the latter
figure will mean that Maine would lose
one seat, with the net result of fortv-
eight seats in Congress.
Congressional leaders are strongly
opposed to any large increase in the
House, as they regard the present
membership of 435 as too unwieldy
When the House Census Committed
headed by Representative Siegel. Of
New York, begins consideration of 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 benefit from
larger House.
Only once, in 1870 has the size of
the House been reduced. At one other
time, just before the Civil War. the an
portionment was held down. with the
resulting loss of seats falling most
heaVlly on the Southern states.
If Membership Is Held to 435
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 Carolina. Okla,
homa, Texas and Washington. To off
set these gains, Missouri would be
forced to lose two Representatives.
while Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
LOUISIANA. Maine. mississippi. Ne
hraska, Rhode Island Vermont and
Virginia would lose one each. All
other states would retain their present
numerical delegations in Congress.
At the last session of Congress some
Republican leaders expressed Oh
positlon to any change in the House
that would be Of profit to the South
however, the new census does not in
create that the South can be affected
without corresponding effect on
states whore the Republicans might
not be inclined to reduce the delega-
tions.