Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-20
G. o. P. DOES NOT WISH
TO GIVE DIXIE OFFENSE
Would Attempt to Prevent Fu-
ture Assemblies From In
creasing Membership.
QUESTION BRINGS ON FIGHT
Ono Faction Seeks to Postpone Ac-
ton Until After March 8. but
Efforts Arc Blocked.
Bi HUDSON HAwLEY,
United News Stan corresponJrn m

thlttu -NthS sum SoTTchpbnucnt.
WAsIIINGTON, Dec. I9.--Though
the Republicans Of the House OF
Representatives. By recent action in
caucus. went on record in favor of
reapportionng tho seats in their
body and enlnrgin. It's size from i35
to 4S3 member their project Will
not have sncn smooth sailing when
II comeS up before the Senate.
Senator George Moses. OF New
Hampshire, II IS expected. viii lead
the nGtt In the upper house to keep
the lower chamber at it's present
size. and Will. II is Understood. pro-
cced along the same lire ny was
adopted by Representative George
Holden Tinkham. of Massachusetts. a
member of the House Census Com
mittce. Tinkhams idea. In brief.
was TO hold down the size of the
House BY cutting down the repre-
scntat!on Of the Southern States be-
cause OF alleged disfranchisemcnt OF
negroes.
Tinkhnm Fought Hard.
Tinkham fought hard for his pro-
posai IN the recent caucus. but vas
NO'ri o'Ni. ~ re secrecy
rule" as To caucus proceedings. which
has become more or less OF dead
letter was vigorously stressed by
the Republican leaders I'm the House.
who did not wish TO offend the Solid
South" into which they made such
important inroads at the las. cleo
iion. by allowing TInkham too much
publicity for his views. But Tink-
hams ideas as to compliance with
tho fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the Federal Constitution
will. IL liz understood. be championcd
by Senator Moses when the reappor
tionmen, bill. soon to he framed in
the House. goes over 10 the Senate
wing OF the Capitol
Thcr. is always a fine free-for-
all when the question OF reappur-
tionng seats in the House. on the
basis Of the decennial census. comes
up for action. and this year promises
TO be no exception. Only once in
history has the House failed to in
crease its membership as a result of
The census gains. despite the often
expressed convictions of such leaders
AS Speaker Gillett. cx-Speaker
Champ Clark. and Ex-senator Thco-
dorc +. Burton. of Ohio. who VIII
bc member OF the Incoming House.
that the House Is already too un-
wieldy in numbers, and that the halt
must he called some time.
Tie Up Future Congrcsxes.
This year those same leaders and
others have been just as vocal in
urging that the House membership
be not increased. but again they
have been bowlcd over politely, bu.
none the less firmly. They will. II,
is understood, be given a sop in that
the Census Committee. which Is
charged with bringing out the re.
apportonment bill. will seek to fix
the size of the House at 4s3 mem
bcrs by adding on clause that this
number shall no; be exceeded by flu
ture Congresses. no matter what the
population returns on the forty
eight States may show. That PROMO
sition, however, Is not apt to find
much favor with the Senate.
One faction OF the House Rcpub-
licans has sought to postpone ac-
tion on rcapportionment until after
MAJ ch 4. since ii is the Congress
OF Two years hence. and not the in
coming SiXty-Seventh. which would
be affected by the change. But the
vote in caucus indicated beyond a
doubt that this Congress wants to
dispose Of the mntter now. and the
Republican decision will find plenty
Of Democratic support to helm II
along.