South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-07
Indiana Legislature May Act
TO Alter Congressional
Districts.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON. D. G, Dec. g.
Whether or not the legislature OF In
diana at its coming session viii di-
vide the state into new congressional
districts Is involved IN consideration
that IS now being given here 10 the
question Of reapportionment The
next few weeks probably Will decide
whether the passage OF a congress
sional reapportionment bill will be
one OF the major tasks before the
Indiana legislature at its next ses-
sion.
Before heSeg!slature can act in
diligently. congress must act and
the whole matter is now being given
attention at this end Of the line. Az
ter every decennial census Z is UP 10
congress TO fix the size OF the house
Of representatives and by using the
census population figures as a basis
to certify 20 the various states what
tho unit OF apportionment shall be
so that the total population OF the
country shall be represented in con-
gress by the number Of representa-
tlves that has been agreed upon.
Disagree on Size.
Following the 1920 census efforts
have been made repeatedly to pass
legislation through congress fixing
the unit Of superintendent but dlsa-
greement as 10 what the size Of the
house should be has created dead
lock and has prevented congress
from discharglng what is plai2ly the
constitutional mandate. 4 reappor-
tionment bill, which provided for in,
creasing the present membership OF
the house from 435 to ass mem bers
was amended on the floor OF the
house in 1920. cutting the proposed
ass to ass, as at present. but this
was killed in the senate. In the last
session Of the present congress the
census committee reported bill pro
viding for $50 members and this
was recommitted.
There IS a very general impression
that the house already is too large
and that if the interests OF the ma
ton as a whole were considered ii
would be reduced i'm size. instead OF
increased. Its unwieldiness is fire.
quently demonstrated and in a house
as large as the present one individ-
uaI responsibility rests lightly or
members, one result being that many
Representatives from large cities dc
not even come to Washington, except
to be sworn in, and have their pay
sent to them by mail.
The selfish element enters into
the situation to a striking degree
however, and the delegations from
states which. on account of the shift
ing currents of population, would
lose representation unless the mem
bership Of the house is increased
have formed a hog combine tc
boost the membership from 495 e
at least 46O.
Sen. ELECT Simeon D. Tess, who vii
retain his seat in the house unit
March { next. when he viii transfer
his service to the other end of the
capitol. is one of those who insis
that congress should now proceed
without delay 20 do it's plain consti
tutional duty by passing Legislation
establishing the unit of cOngressiOna
apporticnment and certifying il Il
/ the states. The legislatures Of more
! than 40 states. besides Indiana. vii
meet and if congress viii establish
| the new unit by New Years day, foI
/ instance, the legislatures will all b'
able to get down to work when they
convene on new apportionment bills
There should be no further delay
/ about this matter" said Rep. Fess
/ personally, I am strongly opposed
/ to any increase in the size Of th'
/ house. but l believe congress will b.
/ Sinking its plain duty if it does no
60 ahead and pass the Legislation
\ contemplated by the constitution an'
which amounts, in my opinion, to
/ constitutional mandate"