Evening journal., 1921-01-11
LARGER HOUSE
COST 100000
Minority Census Members
to Present Arguments
Against Larger Body
PUBLIC OPPOSED.
THEY DECLARE

WASHINGTON. Jan. ii.-Contendlng
that II will cost more than Si.OeO,OOO
annually "a increase the membership
OF the House by forty-eight members.
and that public sentiment Is against
a larger House, six members Of the
Census Committee have agreed on a
minority report on the Reapporlion-
ment bill. This minority report will
be signed by three Republicans and
three Democrats, namely: Larsen. OF
| Georgia; Brinson. Of North Carolina,
and stephens, OF Mississippi, Demo-
Gratis, and Glynn. OF Connecticut; Bar
bouri OF California, and Fairfield, Of
I Indiana, Republicans.
That the House Is already unwieldly.
that there is no public demand for a
larger House. and That. with an annual
tax levy OF S5.0000O0, the country can
not afford the additional expense. are
the main arguments advanced by the
dissenting members Of The committee.
Without an Increased member
ship, says the minority report, 1.-The
states VIII still maintain that proper
ti0nal representation TO which they
are entitled according 30 population
and the provisions OF the Constitution
No Injustice would be done, but much
good would result"
The minority report charges the
Census Committee failed 10 investigate
the cost Of the larger House. but ID Is
lestimaied the annual cost. because Of
lforty-eight new members, will be as
follows. Salary OF members, $500 900 .
clerk hire, Sf76.6i0: mileage. s2i0OOO .
stationery allowances. $1,000 addltioE2 /
force for maintenance Of quarters.
$4,000.
I'm addition. II Is declared. there Is
lno room In the House office building
Tor fOrty-eieht new members, and a
new building must be constructed. or
ladditions made 10 the present one, at
a great cost.
"This question recurs every ten
years continues the minority report
THE membership OF the House can
mot be Increased indefinitely. A stop
must be made some time, and In our
lopiniQn no time will be more oppor-
tune than the present We believe in
creased membership Will result In de-
creased efficiency"
The dissenting half dozen members
say they believe their views represent
lpublic sentiment. and that popular
lopini0n Is opposed 10 any Increase
Whatsoever and the House should stay
at the present figure Of i3j."
There is no public service that can
be rendered by iS3 members that can
- not be rendered Just as efficiently. on
imore so, by i3l members" The effect
lof reappOrtionment upon any part,c-
ular state or district should not be
considered. The one question 10 be
met is that OF the general welfare
Reapp0riiOnment and the membership
Of the House are not local questions
they are general and affect the entire
country and all the people,
The Siegel bill TO increase the House
10 iS3 members, beginning with tht
Sixty-oighth Congress, was ordered
reported by the Census Committee two
days ago. Those signing the maiorit,
report, however, suggest that IN,
House be limited by constitution
amendment 10 500 members, cuttin,
on any great increase In the future
The minority report says this is no
the time 10 consider the ultimate siz,
OF the House, nor 10 limit It, but fol
some time 10 come the figure should
remain az i3j. The majority plan here
after TO hold the House down 10 no
exceeding 500 members. the minority
report says, Is an admission that thl
present proposed increase is no