Evening star., 1926-02-07

~ committee, through It's CHAIR
II man, Representative +. Hart
"A Fem Of Connecticut, has in
Vted the sponsors of the four
reapportionment bills that have been
introduced to present their views be-
fore the committee, there is a very
strong proba ability that the reappor-
Iionment of Representatives in Con-
sress among the IS States will be
postponed until after the next decen
NAL census In 1880.
Many good reasons are influencing
the House toward such a decision:
It is six years since the last census,
and only four years to the next CEN
Sus:
The 1920 census Is not considered
talr basis or a relatively true compu-
ration of the population, because
there was during the war disloca-
ZION of population. with decidedly
strong shift to industrial cities from
agricultural sections, and testimony
has been placed before the census
committee that some census emu
merators. being paid so much per
name, sat down by the roadside and
made up lists out of their heads;
There recently has been another
unprecedented shift in population,
into Florida, out of nearly all the
states but the Middle West and Cali
fornia;
Many States are holding their nom
mating primaries early and a reap
portionment law could not be rushed
through before candidates We're nomi-
mated in South Dakota, Illinois, In
diana, Pennsylvania, Oregon, North
Carolina. Iowa, Florida, New Jersey,
Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota,
all of which hold primaries before
July l;
Eight Legislatures Meet.
Only eight State Legislatures meet
this year, so that even If a reapportion-
ment law was passed by Congress tell
ing each State how many Representa-
tives it could have in Congress on the
basis its population bears to the total
population of all the States. only one
sixth of all the States would have a
chance to redistriCt, and this includes
only of the 10 States in which a
change would be necessary under the
1920 census figures If the present size
of the House is to be maintained;
In every reapportionment since the
first census in 1890, with the single
exception of the fifth census in 1880,
the number of Representatives has
been increased-but Congress now
seems pretty well agreed that the
numerical strength should not go
higher than it is at present, 435 mem
Ders, but preferably should be de-
creased;
While States would gain larger
entation-California }, Connect
cut I, Michigan 2, New Jersey l,
North Carolina 1, Ohio 2, Texas l and
would lose-Missouri 2 and Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky. Louisiana,
Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode
Island and Vermont I each-have thus
far been able to prevent reapportion-
nIent on a basis that would weaken
their numerical strength In the House.
Three Congresses have already
lodged the issue Of reapportionment,
which was due in the SiXty-Sixth Con-
gress. The Constitution. in Article I,
provides that Representatives and
direct taxes shall be apportioned
, among the several States which may
be included within this Union, accord
ing to their respective numbers.
The actual enumeration shall
oe made within every subse-
1uent term of 10 years" In the
Stxty-seventh Congress a bill was re-
ported providing for increasing the
size of the House from 435 members
TO 400. At that time 1t was shown
that these additional % members
would increase the cost Of legislation
at least $500, 900 a year, and since then
salaries have been increased 33 l-3 per
cent,
Becoming UnwieIdy
In the Sixty eighth Congress action
was deferred to the so-called short
session." ostensibly to avoid State pri-
naries. and then in the short session
he committee decided not to report
out q bill.
Members have come to realize that
he House is becoming unwieldy in
size; the members are now crowded
and are about to authorize the erec-
ton Of a new office building to give
them adequate space. and they are
quite determined against increasing
he number Of members. But to hold
lown to 435 members or less, and
preserve equal representation for all
the people, 8 States would have to
, lose II members while other
states gain 12 members. This would
mean redistricting in II States dis
turbing u total OF 1856 congressional
districts rs now defined. Members
do not like TO have their districts
disturbed.
OF course, it is true that reappor-
rionment is needed as provided for in
ba Con -fitnfipT 10, pn,,,