Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-19
MONTAGUE ASSA|LS
MOVE FOR 48 NEW
MEMBERS IN HOUSE
Richmond Representative
Urges Colleagues to Cut
Representation.
VOTE ON AN INCREASE
PUT OFF UNTIL TODAY
Body Already Too Unw;eldy
for Effective Legislation,
Says Ex-Governor.
QUESTION DEBATED 5 HOURS
Nondc!l Says Fathers OF Constitu-
ton Intended Chamber to
Remain Small.
QUESTION DEBATED . HOURS
Mondc!l Says Fathers OF Constitu-
ton intended Chamber to
Remain Small.
tBy Associated Press. !

WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.-After nye
hours of argument and oratory, the
House. like jury not required to be
locked up, went home tonight to
deliberate over the proposal to in
crease its membership from 4a5 to
4S3
Such storm OF protest was raised.
however. TO the bill that House lead
ers predicted the verdict tomorrow
would be against the increase and
for an amendment holding seats to
the present total
The debate touched on every nos
sibic point, although Representatives
Clark. former democratic leader, de-
clared 1t was not different from that
hard after every decennial census
for the last half century.
Rising 10 speak In opposition to
the bill, Representative Esch, Re-
publican Wisconsin. who failed OF
reelection last year after a continu-
ous service OF twenty-five years. was
greeted by demonstration by Re-
publicans and Democrats alike. Then
when he had the undivided attention
Mr.. Esch declared the House could
not Justify its action in adding to the.
membership simply to save one seat
in Maine and another In Missouri.
Why can't this House have the
courage to say 1t will not do that?"
he asked. THE people of your state
are not so much concerned with tho
number of Representatives rs they
are with the question OF ability and
efficiency. II Is not too difficult to
remember tho time when Maine, with
four members, had more influence
here than New York. with its thirty
All Have Chance to Talk.
Nearly everybody had chance to
express his views. Representative
Montague. Democrat. Virginia, broke
into the discussion in Its carly stage,
to declare that II was shockingly OBJ
vious to the House. as 1t was to the
country. that the House was too
big now to leGis!ate effectively.
Representative Clark, who goes
out of office In March, indorsed the
increase. but announced he would
fight for constitutional amendment
which would hold the total to 500 for
all time. Representative Mondell. OF
Wyoming. the Republican leader.
joined with those opposing an in
crease in membership, declaring. that
III this body Is TO remain what the
fathers. intended--a deliberatiye body
1t must be kept reasonably small"
some members even from States
which stand to lose representation.
opposed the bin and insisted on an
amendment proposed by Representa-
tive Barbour. Republican,. California,
which would keep the total as it
stands today. This was particularly
.rue OF Mississippi. slated TO loso q
seat, three OF its representatives
S'sson. Humphreys and Stephens
lighting for the smaller number.
There was. however, plea from
Representative Aswen. Democrat,
Louisiana, whose State would lose
ono member, that reduction should
not be cut down NJ the time women
were starting to vote, and a warning
by Representative Sims, Democrat.
Tennessee. that 1t was easier for hig
interests to control small than I
big body. Taking up the latter state
ment MIR. Sisson said all the world
knew how big cities were bossed, and
that the charge never had been made
that there was such Il being as the
boss of a village.
An amendment applying the pro-
visions of the fourteenth amendment
Continued on Tenth Page.)