Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-14
Editorial Digest
Too Many Congressmen.

SAsAAy ~~~0S SSSe~~'
If Congress, in voting for the new
reapportionment measure. and thus
adding forty-eight members to its
| body, is following the will Of the
people, then the newspapers of the
country do not reflect public opinion.
The majority of the press. even jour-
| nails in states whose population in
crease would entitle them to added
representation at the Capitol, are ap-
parently united in the belief that
there are too many representatives"
now. Few, however. see any hope of
the development of an attitude on the
part of our lawmaking body which
might persuade it to reduce it's mem
bership.
A few voices are raised in rebuttal
of the 'unwieldiness" charge. The
Syracuse Herald Independently. for
instance. calls attention to the fact
that "the British house of commons
has go members and the French
chamber of deputies not far from 600"
A frankly sectional viewpoint is re-
f1ected in the New Orleans States
(democratic): "The decision to in
crease the membership and to keep
the population basis will naturally
be welcomed in the south, for 1t may
be taken to mean that at least during
the present administration there Will
be no effort to curtaii the representa-
ton of this section and weaken It's
strength in Washington and in presl-
Dental elections"
The Houston Chronicle independ-
en) holds a similar view. but grants
that 1.-The time will come" when the
held stationary" That time, how,
ever, it is sure has hardly arrived"
yet. But this view cannot be taken
as representative either of the south
or of the nation. for the Charleston
News and Courier (democraticl' after
certify in their economy talk. declares
that instead of a larger House, one
half" the present body would be IN
f1nitely more effective as law
making organization" This feeling
seems to be general and the Iacoma
that "congressmen. like dollars, de-
preciate in value when they are
multiplied" finds counterpart In the
San Antonio Express independent
democratic(.
The economy argument is taken up
the Indianapolis News independently,
which considers it doubtful that
''forty-eight additional representa-
ttves are worth a million dollars
year to the country"
TOO large for efficiency. COM
pendent republican,, though Rhode
Island would lose representative
were its size decreased or left sta
tionary under present population
But many believe that no state
could really suffer if the member
as the Nashville Banner independ-
ent) puts it, none would be dealt
with unjustly If the reduction was.
general. and based on population, as
the law requires. but it would be I'M
popular for any representative to per-
nit the loss of representation II ne
could prevent it,"
Apparently Massachusetts. which
will be a gamer under the present
plan, does not feel the glory is worth
the cost. The Springfield Union (re-
publican) says: 1T is permissible for
self upon the fact that in the con-
gressional reapportionment she will
gain two representatives, but only
because she has gained in population
relatively. Nothing is gained by such
a reappoftionment that would not be
gained ~ one leaving the IouSe III
larger than at present" -
The Baltimore Sun Independent
democratic) feels similarly concerning
it's own state. for though Maryland
will be allotted an additional repre-
sentative, the Sun believes that "it
would be much better for Maryland
to lose three of its members it al
ready has. il the representatives Of
the other states were reduced pro-
portionately," and il 1.-THE public were,
really alive to the Importance" Of
this. it might be accomplished.
Hope for such a change must be de-
ferred, however: the Mobile Register
(democratic) points out. by recurring
to the solid south" argument, for
republicans think cit would be a great
mistake at this time to throw a buck
ct Of cold water over the south: and
undoubtedly. if there exists any sub
stantial hope. of breaking up the
solid south. their thought on the sub
feet is correct"