The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-19
DELAY Vote ON
HOUSE INCREASE.
Argument and Oratory Keeps
Session in UprOar Through
out the Day.
INCREASE WILL FAIL
House Leaders Predict Measure
to Make Number 4S3
Will Be Beaten.
(ey Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-After five
hours OF argument and oratory, the
house. like jury not required to be
locked ups went home tonight to delib-
crate over the proposal to increase its
membership from 435 to 4S3.
Such a storm OF protest was raised
however. TO the bill that the 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 pos
sible point. although Representative
Clark, former democratic leader declared
IT was not different from that heard after
the decennial census for the last half
century.
Esch Opposes Bill.
Rising to speak in opposition to the
bill, Representative Esch, republican, of
Wisconsin, who failed for recollection last
year after a continuous service. OF %
years. was greeted by a demonstration
by republicans and democrats alike. Then
when he had the undivided attention,
Mr.. Esch declared the house could not
Justify its action in adding to the mem
bership simply. to save one seat in Maine
and another in Missouri.
why can't this house have the
courage to say it will not do that?" he
asked. THE people of your state are not
so much concerned with the number of
representatives as they are with the
question of ability and efficiency. 1t is
not too difficult to remember the time
when Maine, with four members. had
more influence here than New York with
it's thirty"
Nearly everybody had a chance to ex-
press his views. Representative Mon
tague. democrat, Virginia, broke into the
discussion to declare that it was shock
ingly obvious to the house. as il was to
the country, that the house was too big
now to legislate effectively. Represen-
tative Clark, who goes out of office in
March. endorsed the increase but an
nounced that he would fight for a con-
stitutional amendment which would hold
the total TO 500 for all time Represen-
tative Mondell, of Wyoming, the repub-
hcan leader, Joined with those opposing
an Increase in membership, declaring
that ''if this body is TO remain what
the fathers intended, a deliberative body,
1t must be kept reasonably small"
Losing States Speak.
Some members even from states which
stand to lose representation opposed the
bill and insisted ON the amendment pro-
posed by Representative Barbour, repub-
lican, California, which would keep the
total as ii stands today. This was par
ticularly true of Mississippi, slated to
lose a seat. three of it's representatives
Sisson. Humphreys and Stephens-fight-
ing for the smaller number
There was, however, plea from Rep
resentative Aswel, democrat. Louisiana,
whose state would lose one member that
reduction should not be cut down at the
time women were starting to vote, and
warning by Representative Sims. dem
ocrat, Tennessee, that it was easier for
big interests to control a small than
big body. Taking up the latter state
ment. Mr.. Sisson said all the world knew
how big cities were bossed. and that the
charge never had been made that there
was such being as the boss of a viii
lage.