The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-18
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY


~ Constitution, which provides
through the decade system, for re-
apportionment on the basis of the
1920 census OF representation in the
House.
The House today will vote on the
Fem bill for reapportionment on
the basis of the 1880 census, effec-
tive in 1893. Many reservations en-
cumber the measure.
Under the bill the Secretary OF
Commerce in 1881 would reallocate
the present 435 seats to accord with
the new census, provided there is
no prior action by Congress. The
bill would permit Congress to
chaneg its mind later and make
the 1881 reapportionment by in
creasing the membership of the
House to, say, 535.
The mildness of the bill does not
prevent last-ditch opposition by
most representatives from States
which would lose through its pro-
visions.
Support comes from States which
would gain in seats, and also from
group, including the administra-
ton, which is uneasy over further
ignoring of the Constitution.
The issue turns OH whether the
present total number of seats shall
be retained, or whether there shall
be a net increase in the number of
representatives to save any State
from q reduction.
On the basis of the 1910 census
of the national population Of 81
41,l79, the last ALLEGATION was made
in 1911, in which 435 seats were dis
tributed among the forty eight
States.
BY 1920 the population had grown,
exclusive of the disfranchised Dis
trict of Columbia, to los ,27l 200. In
the last eight years several States
have had more representation rela-
lively than allowed by the Consti-
tuition. while others have been de-
MED their just apportionment.
All legislation within this period
has thus been determined by a
"non-representative house" it is ar
gued.
Estimates place the 1923 popula-
ton at 123,000,OO0 Most students
of government agree with the Ad-
ministration that the House already
is so large as to be unwieldy and
inefficient.
Hence the argument that the
number Of seats should not be in
creased to keep pace with the ris-
ing population figures, as desired by
the States which would lose under
the proposed bill.
Assuming that the 1890 popula-
ton estimates are correct, about
twenty-three seats would be
changed. Seventeen States would
lose one or more representatives,
and eleven States would gain, as
follows:
Losses: One seat each for Ala
bama, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine.
Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York.
North Dakota, Pennsylvania. Ten
nessee, Vermont and Virginia; two
each for Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky
and Mississippi, and three for Mis-
souri,.
Gains: One each for Arizona.
Connecticut. Florida, North Caro-
lima, Oklahoma and Washington;
two each for New Jersey and Texas
three for Ohio, four for Michigan
and six for California.
n u
a PPARENTLY unconvinced by
L y testimony Of managers of Gov
ernor Al Smith Of New York, lead
ing Democratic presidential candi-
date, the Senate campaign investi-
eating committee has decided to 20
to Raleigh, N. c., next week to probe
primary records.
Chairman Steiwer, a Republican,
says pro-Smith and anti-Smith fac
lions will be given a hearing.
Sedgwick Kistler, candidate for
Democratic committeeman from
Pennsylvania, was on the stand yes
teroay when the Senate committee
received the following telegram from
Lewis c. Cassidey, Pennsylvania
delegate to the Democratic conven-
ton:
Alliance between Democrats and
Ware in Philadelphia national scan
DIAL" Senator Elect Ware, whose
election was contested, is the Re-
publican boss in that city.
Kistler denied all knowledge Of
the charge.
n r.
NTICARAGUAN reports of a third
IN rebel raid on the American
owned La Luz mine, and of one
American Marine killed and two
wounded in a battle near Pena
Blaca, are expected by the Wash
ington Administration to solidify
American public opinion in support
of its interventionist policy.