Evening star., 1926-04-11
HOUSE PUTS CHECK
.ONREAPPORT|ON|NG
Present inclination Is to Let
Issue Ride Until 1882,
or Later.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

D1 hODEnI L. oMhAAAIs
Reapportionment of the House Of
Representatives under the census of
1920 would affect only IL of the sitting
435 members, yet the House as a
whole refuses to vote for the reappor-
tionment. although the mandate of the
Constitution Is plain.
The situation of injustice to a num-
Der of States which, 1t is claimed, are
being deprived of a proper proportion
ate representation in Congress is made
all the more acute by the fact that
1925 estimates Of population issued by
the Department of Commerce empha
size the further shifts of population
which have occurred since the last
decennial counting.
Case of California.
There is, for instance. the State of
California, which in 1910 had a popu-
lation of 2.377,549. The population of
the State is estimated today at 4.316,
459. Under the 1910 reapportionment
California was given ! l representatives
in Congress. Today she still has IL,
despite an increase lin her population
of 81 per cent. OF course, the present
Congress cannot legally take cogni-
Zance of the 1923 estimates of popuh-
ton. But even under the 1920 census
returns, California, on the existing
basis Of congressional representation,
would be entitled TO three more Con
greSSmen.
1t may be argued--in fact. it has
been argued-that it is no advantage
to State TO have more men In Con
gress. 1t il argued there are enough
men there already, just standing idly
about and watching the leaders push
the wheels around. But AT the same
time California IS being deprived of
her three congressman she is also be-
ing deprived of three votes for PreSi-
dent of the United States in the cleo
toral college. California should have
had those additional three votes in
the 1924 election--not that they would
have made any great difference in the
result but State pride demands its
full recognition of growth. And then
too. it must not be forgotten that i'll
1916 California's electoral vote decided
a presidential election.
Texas Imposed Upon.
Texas is another State which is be-
ing sadly imposed upon, and Michigan
and Ohio and New Jersey. Michigan
has gained Sc per cent in population.
with absolutely no increased repre-
sentation. Texas has gained 36 per
cent, New Jersey As per cent and Ohio
3S per cent.
If the House would vote to reappor-
ton itself in accordance with the 1920
census, eight States would gain Rep
resentatives in Congress and II States
would lose. California would gain
three seats, to make her total repre-
sentation in TIE House IA, and her
vote in the electoral college 16 in
stead of 13. Michigan would gain
two seats for total of 10; Ohio would
So A..
would gain one for a total of g.; New
Jersey one for a total of 13; North
Carolina one for total of IL; Texas
one for total of 19, and Washington
one for total of six.
Missouri is the only State which
would lose two seats under reap.
poftionment, cutting down her dele
cation in the House to IA and her
vote in the electoral college to 16
The following states would lose one
vote each: Indiana, Iowa. Kansas
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mis-
sissippi. Nebraska, Rhode Island and
Vermont.
No Action at This Time.
The loss of representation by these
States does not mean that these com
monwealths have gone backward or
have lost population. 1t simply means
that the States which would gain rep
resentatives have had a higher per.
centage of increase in population than
their sister States.
If increases were to be allowed on
a basis of not decreasing the present
representation of any State, the House
membership would be raised to 400
an increase of % members. Appor
tioning the existing 435 seats among
the States according TO the 1920 fig
ures would result in the Il changes
already enumerated.
The present inclination in Congress
is to let matters stand until l932-o1
later.