The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-10-03
VERMONT MAY KEEP
TWO CONGRESSMEN
ReappOrtionment Bill to
Receive Early COnsidera-
ton by House .
LARGER HIGHWAY -.
APPROPRIATIONS
Senate May Increase Federal Aid to Re-
IieVe Unemployment - Would Make
121,250 Immediately Available In
Vermont and S24o.5OO Later.

WASHINGTON, oct. 3.-Scheduled
for early consideration after the house
resumes business this week is the bill
for reapportioning the number of members
of the national house among the several
states. In the last congress, there was,
earlier this year, a prolonged fight over
the question of what should be the total
number, now 435. of the house of repre-
sentatives. Those against any increase
including most of the Massachusetts mem
hers. were successful and a bill was passed
Keeping the number at 49,. This meas
ure died of inaction in the senate.
Now it seems probable that the house
will pass a bill establishing the total at
46O This would give Massachusetts II
house seats, Il gain of one; Connecucut
six. a gain of one; Maine three. a loss OF
one New Hampshire two, as ut present
| Rhode Island three as ut present, ana
| Vermont two. as at present.
The number 400 was recommended by
THE house census committee in a majority
report The minority held that the cost
lof the additional members annually
would total about 100000. The majority
ESTIMATED the cost at exactly S296, 3SJ.b4.
/ The majority held that the legislative
DobitS III the IN iiitiA 'NtAAt'l ~ - 800
rope are larger in relation 10 their reSpec-
tive populations than the United States
house of representatives.
Possible Highway Work.
The unemployment situation may have
the effect of causing the senate and house
conferees on the federal highway bill to
recommend that the appropriation carried
be $50. 600. 600, or SJOOOO,OOu more than
proposed by the house and double the
! l.. Il, L. 2 oil
the senate. Stroug pressure is being eX-
crted upon the conferecS to do this, even
thosgh the critically minded might hail it
a. a reversal of administration policy, haV-
ing in mind the fight, against the house
bill made in the senate by administration
leaders.
! The senate bill provides that the appro-
priation shall be $4,000 900. S2500O.O 900
of which would be available Immediately
after the act went into effect and the bal
ance available six months after passage OF
= the act The funds would be expended on
highway work in partnership with the sev-
eIal states. the amount expended by tine
federal government Ia be limited to not
more than 30 per cent of the total esti-
mated cost. -ei"-
New England's Shares
OF the S25 900 which would be i'm
Imediately available. there would be avail
able for expenditure in the New England
| tateS the following approximate amounts
! Massachusetts, S3G4099 New Hamp-
shire, S121 $50; Rhode Island, SEIZED;
! Connecticut. $139.SS9; Vermont, Sl21,-
! 30: Maine. S231,2S9.
The shares of the New England states
! in the balance would be approximately as
Massachusetts. S72S.19s: New Hamp-
shire. 247. 800: Rhole Island. S242. 500;
Connecticut $319,779; Vermont, $242,-
| 800; Maine. S462,57S.
Should the proposed appropriation be
doubled. then the shares of the New Eng
land states would be approximately
doubled in each case.
What Would BE Spent at Present.
! Figures of August 81 on file with the
bureau of public roads here indicate there
Is available for expenditure in the New
| England states under existing highway
| legislation the following amounts:
| Massachusetts, S:37,271; New Hamp-
shire. nothing; Rhode Island. S3.734;
! Connecticut. S35S.41S; Vermont S304,
! 944: Maine nothing. TO obtain the eX-
penditure of these. amounts, the states
concerned would have to contract to spend
at least an equal amount.
/ Unless the state highway departments
of the New England states have funds
enough to meet the requirements of the
/ proposed act. they would probably have
to await the next Legislative sessions be
fore they would be in a position TO take
advantage of the new act. One section
Iof the new bill would hold the states to
strict account. as follows:
That should any state fail to maintain
any highway within its boundaries after
construction or reconstruction under the
provisions of this act. the secretary of
agriculture (charged with administration
of the act) shall serve notice upon the
state highway department of that fact
and if within 60 days after receipt of such