Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-18
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Special to The Bulletin. l

ment or representation till after the elections of 1922-24-26 and 1928 instead of following the century old custom of lreapportionnent immediately after the taking of the census That would leave iCennecticuts representation at five the same as at present. instead of increas- 1 ing it to six as the new census per mits. Moreover there is nothing to pre- ivept congress from calling for another teensus at once, for the Constitution provides that a census shall be taken | within a period of every ten years, { but does not fix the date for So doing. Neither does it make mention of the
 exact time the reappertionment shall 1 follow All that is left to congress ex- l cept it occur within the prescribed ten
 year period. Neither would the repre- sentation in the electoral college be dis- 1 turbed by delay. Probably no section of the Constitution is so misunderstood as that relating to census, or enumera- tion, as it is there, styled. The last l census bears the official date of January ] l, 1920, and congress may call for an other at any date it chooses between the date of the last previous census
 and the expiration of ten years. The taking of census, however at the be- ginning of a ten year period has been so closely adhered to ftr century and more, that 1t has come to be looked on
 as a part of the Constitution, but such l is not the fact. Reapportionment may 1 likewise be deferred till the last day of December 1928 if congress so elects. This statement is ,substantiated by 1 the bureau of the census and the best Informed constitutional lawyers in con
 gress, who point out that study Of the 1 Constitution makes it clear. All the same most of the members of congress are not in touch with that interpreta- ton nor is the country at large. This was brought to light as an outcome of
 the big scrap now going on in the house, regarding it's future size, which
 has proved a bone of contention over which several powerful factions are lighting. And the country is looking
 on believing the matter will not admit
 of delay without infringing on the Con
 stitutional rights of the people, passing
 it's belief or tradition instead of the Constte Ition itself
 Until reappertionment is actually
 made tie membership of the house re- mains a. now; each state and each dis
 trict remains unchanged until the reap portionment, based on the 1920 census has passed the senate and house and 5 even though elections might take place, Connecticut would preserve it's districts ! and it's membership of five intact.
 But there is small chance of congress 5 taking advantage of the situation. It B would hesitate to break the customs of 1 q century and also feel unwarranted in 1 calling for another census soon after
 that of 1920 on Q count of the heavy
 expense involved notwithstanding tho fact that many states express dissatis- faction over the result of the 1920 emu Q meration. States that lose claim it is 2 tdue to the floating population that [ sought states an cities where nlunitior 4 plants and other war work drew then , from their normal homes; states that gain feel they have acquired a white
 elephant and dread the expenses, the trouble and general political upheaval , ltbat will result from redistricting the : state The cost of the last census wa: 2 SEQ. TAO coo and the bureau of the cen 2 sus estimates that the cost of taking
 merely q census of population at thi
 time would cost approximately $11,500,
 000 The last census included also az
 riculture and manufacture.
 y So congress. with it's programme fo l. economy is not likely to consider s rus1 'f call for aroteer enumeration, and a! o soon as the leaders of the fight coo It down 6 bit, the matter is likely to b j.. Iadjusted in committee and either 2S; o Or 460 be agreed on by congress.
 One feature that seems general!
 misunderstood is this: if no reappor n tionment is made, the quota of eacl h state remains the same, and states tha Q would lose under 8 new apDortionmen l. of 435 would retain their present ar T. portio9snent if the present figures of 43 1f were retained. That is Connecticu - would retain only her five members ( ." the house if no action is taken, bu 'S would gain a number even if the ne apportionment kept the total nunbe C. down to 435. which is it's present sig
 Sending the bill back to the cemmitte III on the recommitment vote was favore l' by Tison and Fem, while Glynn, re nenr,er of the committee voted again h. |recommitment. Freeman and Merri E did not vote as they are not yet baC c. here after the recess. There was T h. record vote boiled on the rejection 10 the 435 amendment, and recommi ~, ment won out by the feeble majorit y, Of four. That makes it evident tn; aa the true fight is still to come, and I et prediction of the outcome of the ma
 ter would have @ leg to stand on ng made today. It would be absolute que if work, with one mans guess as good i1r another's.
 ,n Flags in the city are at half ma si for Senator Knox, whose death nv more keenly felt here than would l " possible elsewhere for he was on u ''' top of many important committees,
 power in the treaty discussion, and
 much sought adviser regarding the a ng preaching conference for armament lii
 itation. And when we say flags at ha
 mast, it means that literally they r o,- Ito thousands. Every department. e ." cry building fin which there are gover H. ment offices. the capitol, library, off
 buildings Of the capitol and eve Ike ton is under the direct control of t iz- government and congress. So, whe
 in other cities. a score of flags wou
 fly daily, here in the capital they a ce- counted by the many hundred.
 inc There is already D senatorial scra
 b,e to succeed Senator Knox or t
 committee on foreign relations, but | lgh committee on committees resolutely ,le fused to listen to suggestions till af
 completed. Monday will, however, see av- big hustle for the committee vacanc oH created by the death of MT. Knox, l only vague runor gives an inkling as '0 who will get the places. Senator Br:
 degee is chairman of that importa
 committee on committees and Sena- the Moses of New Hampshire is also me cut Der so it is safe guess that whoever slr- selected by the committee won't be
 man who has wandered far from
 ideals and foreign policies of the l ,rd senator from Pennsylvania, and