Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-29

Suggestions during the presidential
campaign that in the event of close
election it's legality might be attacked
are followed now by emphatic demands
for reapportionment of representation
in the lower house of Congress. There
has been no reapportionment, as re-
ouired by the Constitution, since the
census of 1920. and several States nota-
bly, California and Michigan, protest
bitterly against being deprived OF law
full representation in the House and
consequently in the electoral college.
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan revives
the debate by proposing to have the
Senate act without waiting further for
initiative in the House.
In the discussion OF CALIFORNIA;
rights the Oakland Tribune states: To
DAYS estimate is that California has a
population as large as Texas. Inc
growth here since 1920 is set at 81 per
cent, and the total. according to Cali
fornia DEVELOPMENT Board estimates is
S. 500, 900. Obviously. estimates do not
count when 1t comes to mapping con-
gressional districts, but to show that
they are in line with the facts the
election may be referred to. For Smith
and Hoover Texas cast l9,483 votes,
while California. for the two. cast
1,763,364. This State cast more than
twice as many votes as Texas and sup
piled seven fewer electoral votes.
X X y
Referring to a pledge of support OF
reapportionment which was made by
Senator Borah In speech In Detroit
in the course of the campaign. the De-
troit Free Press expresses the belief
that 1t should encourage the people Of
Michigan Ito expect that their own
Representatives in this direction will re-
ceive more aid from other quarters in
Congress than they have received In the
past" The Jackson Citizen-Patriot
points out that Michigan has one Rep
resentative for each 34548S of popula-
ton. while Vermont has one to each
176,2l5. and as to the proposed change
it declares, "They have deprived the
State of two Representatives and we
want them"
Senator Vandenberg rightly makes
the point" argues the San Francisco
Chronicle, that the Constitution does
not put the obligation for re-
apportionment on the House alone. but
on Congress as whole. Or
course, bill passed by the Senate
alone will not do. But II the Senate
puts through reapportionn1ent meas
ure the House may be shanned into
action"
The Lexington Leader says the bill
should properly originate In the House,
but that paper. agreeing that both
houses are responsible. and conceding
that "the structure of the House Is
affected by the reapportionment and
there has been great opposition to any
steps which would increase the men,
bership from some commonwealths and
decrease the number of Representatives.
in other cases" suggests; III the
States object to losses such as some OF
them must sustain in the due admin
istration of the Constitution. let them
apitate for a change in that instru-
mer1t. While it stands it should be
enforced. There can be no iustifica-
ton for the delay which has been gen.
orally acquiesced in by both parties In
Congress. Senator Vandenberg de-
serves support in his plan to force the
issue"
Certainly no one would have the
House of Representatives of any greater
size than 1t is now Even at present
it is a body which is in some respects
too large" remarks the Flint Daily
Journal. 1T would be comparatively
easy to create more congressional dis
tricts. but we do not want them. What
is wanted is more equitable system
of representation The Shreveport
Journal recognizes that when re-
apportionment does come, 1t means that
several Southern States are going to
have their representation in the lower
house reduced" and that this includes