The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-15
MISSOURI PROPOSAL
ON REINFORCEMENT
APPLIES TO INDIANA
pAILApYUM MEMS BUREAU

WASHINGTON, July 15.-The IA
Republican members OF the Missouri
congressional delegation are demand
ing that congress pass without furtner
delay a congressional rcapportlon-
ment act, conforming to the 1920 CEN
sus ,even in the event the reappor-
tionment makes no increase IN the
present membership of the house OF
representatives, which action would
mean the loss of at least one and pos
sibly two Missouri congressman. 4
The Missouri Republicans assert
that the congressional districts OF tnslr
state have been most shamefully ger
rymandered by the Democrats 10 the
particular advantage OF their party
aid that inasmuch as the missouri
legislature. now controlled by the Re
publicans in both branches, is unaDic
TO redistrict the state IN manner
which would be fair to the Repupl-
cans because of a referendum provis-
ion in the Missouri constitution no
correction of conditions can be had
except with the aid OF the Repuplcan
congress.
PROPOSE AN1CUuTChAs
Republican members from missouri
propose an amendment to the federal
reapportionment bill which would
provide for each state whose repre-
sentation in congress would De de-
creased a redistricting agency otner
than its legislature under certain
conditions The amendment is OF par
itcular interest to Indiana RepuDl-
cans as Indiana is one OF the states
which will lose one member OF con-
gress IN event the reapportionment
act maintains the present house mem
bership of 435, which is anticipated.
A majority of the Indiana members
of congress favor an increase In mem
bership TO atsleast 452, in which event
there would be no reduction IN lndl-
ana's representation, which is IL
members.
The Missouri amendment applies to
the Indiana situation as though II had
been especially designed for it. In the
event congress. would pass the reap
portionnent act any time up TO the
next congressional elections, in No
vehmer, 1922, the Indiana legislature
would not be in session, unless called
into special session, to permit II 10
redistrict the state under the proVl-
sions OF the act. Such being the case,
the three state officials referred to IN
the amendment proposed by the Mis-
souri, Republicans would have the au-
thority to redistrict Indiana.
- Opposed Old Bill.
The Indiana members of the house
were opposed to the reapportionment
bill introduced by the census commit
tee last winter, during the final ses-
sion of the sixty-sixth congress, and
supported the successful fight to
amend the measure to continue the
present house membership. The sen
ate did not act on the measure, as
it was killed.
The bill as the committee reported
it increased the membership to 4So
Representative Fairfield, of Indiana
a member of the committee, opposed
any increase of membership and still
does, though a continuance of the
present membership means the loss
of one Indiana representative. Nearly
all the other Indiana members now IA
vor bill increasing the membership
to a minimum of ASP, which would in
sure Indianas present representation
of 13, and some of these members are
considerably provoked at FalrIlelo
over the attitude he has assumed. Il
is stated that Edwin NJ. Wasmuth, Re
publican state chairman of Indiana
has urged Mr.. Fairfield not to oppose
the stand the majority of the mem
bers of the delegation have taken.
The census committee again recon
sidered the reapportionment bill yes
terday. and Fairfield still stood pa
against any increase but made NJ
opposition to the committees bill cau
ing for an increase in the member
ship to 460 Fairfield and other mem
bers of the small house" group ar
confident the house will amend tn
bill, as it did last winter, fixing tn
membership at 435, which is the pres
ent size of the house.