Evening star., 1926-04-15

postponement in Congress or the
proposal to reapportion representation
in the lower house has drawn some
vigorous comments from the large and
growing centers Of population. Whiie
| in some other parts OF the country the
failure to conform to the census OF
1920 is viewed as satisfactory. The
factors in the situation are the objec-
tions to two possible courses or action
decreased representation from some
States or increase in the size OF the
House. 1t is argued in behalf OF the
present arrangement that there Is no
great public interest, that no time Inn
il is established and that another CEN
sus soon will be taken.
For the first time in history Con-
gress has persisted in ignoring what
would seem to be obligatory though
not definitely expressed as TO tiine'
saws the Pittsburgh Gazette Times
(Republican) as 1t notes that the rail-
ure to act is regarded with compla'
cence by those States which would lose
in representation relatively or actually,
and in much the same light by others
in which there would be no change,
but not so by those entitled to an in
crease in numbers, were q new appor-
tionment law enacted" In this situa-
ton this paper asks, "If the mandate
NAV be ignored for one decade, why
not for tWo?" The Kansas City Post
independently, reiterating that "the
Constitution contemplates the appor.
tionment Of Representatives according
to population" calls attention to the
fact that "some States have grown in
populations; others have lost. ana tnat
under reapportionment the latter
would 'Tose some seats" in Congress.
eat present there Is no great appar-
ent public interest in whether Con-
gress is reapportioned under the 1920
census or not, and since moro than
half tho decade has now elapsed, many
Congressman are opposed TO any
reapportionment until 1882, after the
next census" declares the Roanoke
Times Democraticl
Failure of reapportionment at the
present session means, In all Ilkell-
hood. that there will be no rearrange-
ment before the next presidential
election, because there is little proba'
bility 1t can be undertaken at the De-
cember short session. predicts the
Miami Daily News Democratic). which
continuing, says: '"Then will appear
the election of President on the basis
of the 1910 census 18 years after
IL was taken. The avoidance. by Con-
gress of It's manifest duty directs at
tention to what sort Of travesty the
electoral college system can become"
Taking UP this same point. the Spring
field Union Republican) says that
failure to vote for reapportionment
's'vould be less serious were the con-
sequences confined to the House men,
bership." But, 1t argues, "the failure
also affects the electoral college. as
each State has as many electors as 1T
has representatives in the House and
Senate. In case Of a close election
for President, this might prove to be
serious matter. The election might go
to q candidate who would be defeated
on fair basis Of population as deter
mined by the most recent census"
Among the causes blocking reappor-
tionment the Seattle Daily Times Tin
dependent Republican, lists the fact
that public opinion is opposed to any
enlargement of the House member
ship. and no State will consent to a
reduction in it's representation" The
Philadelphia Public Ledger Gndepend-
ent) contends: 1.-THE farm districts
now have a larger representation than
is justified by their population. The
cities are entitled to more than they
now have. Farm members have
blocked reapportionment," this paper
claims.
On the other hand, the New York
World independent Democratic) calls
attention to the fact that mo time
limits are set upon apportionment in
stated terms" and the World con-