The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-10-20

POSTPONED in
NATIONAL HOUSE
Cong. Dale Lost Out In
Support of Measure to
Save Vt.COngressman

Reapportionment, if not actual
ly dead, is at least in cataleptic
state and likely so to remain for
the present, that is to say for the
current session of Congress at any
rate, in the opinion of usually we'll
informed observers of legislative
tendencies on Capitol Hill. Predi-
eating predictions upon this mort
bund tendency, it follows that Yer
mont, and Rhode Island, and GER
tain other commonwealth whose
representation in the lower house
was more or less in jeopardy
throughout last fridays stormy
controversy may now with relief
of mind return to tending to their
various knittings and think no
more about the business for some
months to come.
Recommitted to the House Cen
sus Committee without instructions
by a body wearied with wrangling
over the subject, the Siegel bill
providing for a membership of AGO
now promises to fads out of the
legislative picture, and the appor-
tlonment of Congressman from the
various states remains exactly as
at the beginning of the fight. Since
there can be no reapportionment
without definite Congressional ac-
ton the present membership stands
and Vermont's representation of
two remain undisturbed.
Ample warrant for the belief
that this subject will not be re-
vived for some time is afforded by
Congressman Isaac SiegePs own
statement as author of the bill and
chairman of the Census Commit
tee.
PERSONALLY | do not see how we
can bring the matter up again at
this session., said Mr.. S.egel. 1--WE
would not be justified in asking
the House to consider this subject
again at this session because so
many other matters of important
ance are pending. This, of cours 2
if my personal opinion, and it is
for the committee to decide as to
its course.
"In my opinion the vote on FRI
day night was not an expression
of the real intent of the House. A
large number of the members had
assumed that the action of the
caucus Wednesday evening had
settled the matter and had gone
away, supposing that everything
was all arranged for the passage
of the AGO membership bill.
"The committee went over this
subject with the greatest care and
| do not see how we could report
out bill any different if we were
to take it up again now. have
not yet reached the point where |
believe that states that have been
the backbone of the nation for
generations should be reduced IN
their Congressional representa-
ton"
That M. Siegel's attitude is
shared by a very considerable num-
Der of his colleagues was evident
about the Capitol after the bill
was recommittcd, many openly
stating that in their belief there
would be no reapportionment be-
fore the next election, in Novem-
Der, 1922.
Postmortems are at times. of a
melancholy interest, and the pro-
ponents of the bill that met it's
Waterloo by only four votes are eX
tracing a certain cold satisfaction
from the knowledge that they held
control by safe if slender mar
gin throughout all the long day of
heated combat. First came the test
of strength on the motion of Re-
preventative Barbour of California
to the effect that "after the 3rd
day of March, 1923. the House of
Representatives shall be composed
of 435 members, to be apportioned
among the several states" (allow.
ing Vermont only one member.)
Here division of the House, with
out a roll call showed 1913 votes for
the amendment and 140 against it.
Came next an amendment by Re-
preventative Tinkham, of the Bay
State, making the membership 425
which was rejected by a loud Choir
us of "Noes". Various amendments
were then proposed and voted
down without roll calls.
Upon motion of Mr.. Siegel the
House. then in Committee of the
Whole, voted to report the bill to
the House with the recommended
ton of its passage. This ended the
proceedings in the committee of
the whole, and prepared the stage
for the final vote. The question
them turned on the engrossment
and third reading of the bill, and
the bill was ordered to be engross-
ed and read the third time.
Ordinarily the proposition of
bills engrossment is merely
formality while it is on its pass
age but at this point Congressman
Blanton, from Texas demanded the
READING of the engrossed copy of
the BILL" which he had a right to
do if strict formality was to be
observed. 1t was in this instance,
however, a play for time.
"The engrossed copy is not
here, but it will be here within an
hour undoubtedly" said the speak
err. "Does the gentleman insist on
this point"
az do So" declared the Texan,
81 do not think the bill ought to