New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-04-12
Assail Koe1lio
At Hearing ON
Gerrymander
18th Dist. Reapporlionmen,
Is Called Scheme to Elect
Chairman's Brother-in-
Law to Congress Again
Tammany Makes Threats
May Refuse to Fuse Against
Socialists, and Decline to
Indorsc Judge for Bench
From, a Ssar Correspondent

ALBANY. April 11,-Charges that the
Congressional reapportionment bill was
| unconstitutional and violative of Fed
eral statutes were made at the hearing
on the measure before Governor Miller
to-day
The principal purpose Of the bill, &C
eording to its critics, is to insure the
reelection OF Representative Nathan
D. Perlman, of the 14th Congressional
District brotherinlaw of Samuel S
Koenig, Republican County President
Of New York.
II the measure is signed, it was said
after the hearing, Tammany. Hall will
not Endorse Chairman Koenig's brother.
Judge Morris koenig, for judge OF Cen
eral Sessions next fall, and may decline
SO fuse against the Socialists in the
East Side districts. Judge Koenic. who
recently was appointed to the bench
failed Of election last year because of
Tammany's refusal TO indorse him. At
! that time he also was serving by ap-
pointment.
Put Through Without Hearing
The bill, which was introduced toward
the end of the session and rushed
through without hearing, reappor-
tions the 18th, 18th, 18th and 18th
Congressional districts There was
little objection to the measure when it
was up before the Legislature, because
it was reported that it sought to cor
rect inequalities in population.
The Citizens Union at the hearing
to-day opposed the measure because of
this alleged deception. Walter Tai
rmadge Arndt secretary of the organi-
cation, said that study made of the
OIL ,ct, 49, i ,,+, o@-
in the gerrymander showed that the
bill would create greater inequalities
Certified copies of population statistics
from the United States Census Bureau
supported these charges.
While the bill, if signed might mean
the election of more than one Socialist
to Congress from New York City, it is
so drawn that regardless of whether
the Democrats fuse with the Republi-
cans against the Socialists the re-
election of Representative Perlman
seems assured. The gerrymandering
of the 14th District has been done so
that the Democratic and Socialist sec
tions are placed in adjoining districts.
The only advocate of the bill was A.
S. Gilbert, who appeared on behalf of
Chairman Koenig. While he was speak
ing Governor Miller asked: rs it not
fact that the populations of the 18th
and 18th districts now are about equal
and that under the proposed reappor-
tionment there will be a difference of
more than 50,OO0?"
Yes" Mr.. Gilbert replied.
Governor Points Out Objection
THAT does not look very much like
observing the requirement that Con-
gressmen be elected from districts as
| nearly equal in population as practi-
call observed the Governor.
George W. Olvaney. chairman Of the
Tammany Hall law committee, said
that the New York County Democratic
organization opposed the bill because
1t was unconstitutional
"1The law" said Ny. Olvaney, ere
quires that in reapportioning districts
the population in each shall be made
AZ nearly equal as possible Obviously
no such attempt has been made in this
bill"
John Block, representing the Social
i,st party, also opposed the proposed
law, declaring it was a political trick
to eliminate Meyer London who repre-
sents the 18th Congressional District
Representatives of labor organiza-
lions from New York City land several
upstate cities also spoke against the
proposals.