Evening star., 1928-04-01
May Elect Congressman at Large


Four years from this Fall all the Rep
resentativeS in Congress OF i6 States
and "a OF those from IL other States
may be elected at large instead of from
individual districts.
This will come to pass II Congress
passes the new congressional apportion-
rnent bill that has been reported by the
House committee on the census and II
the Legislatures OF the States affected
have not redistricted those States in ac-
cordance with the new apportionment
prior to the election of the Seventy
third Congress. which comes In 1882.
Those States viii continue TO elect their
Representatives at large until the re-
diStricting has been effected, and II
their Legislatures are as slow about that
as Congress has been about enacting a
new apportionment law. lit members
OF the House will be In this new rela-
ton to their constituencies for seven or
eight years at least
Congress has been that long about
passing an apportionment law based
upon the 1920 census. Indeed. IL has
been determined that there never will
be reapportionment based on, 1920
population figures. for the new bill has
reference to the census that Is 10 be
taken In 1880.
The Constitution provides that Rep
resentatives shall be apportioned among
the several States according to their
respective populations as determined by
a census to be taken every 10 years. In
1922 the census committee reported a
measure for new apportionment based
on the 1920 census. but the House did
not like it and sent 1t back to the COM
mittee, where 1t has been sleeping peace
fully ever since.
From time To time there has been
considerable of hullabaloo over the
failure OF Congress TO enact law read
tusttng State representation In the
House However, the Constitution does
not say explicitly when Congress must
pass its reapportionment measures or
what shall be done about II II Congress
fails TO act. so 1t seems nothing can be
done but wait for Congress TO dispose
OF the matter In It's own good time.
Similarly. while the apportionment law
has always provided that Representa-
tiyeS shall be elected by districts. the
House has always seated members elect
ed at large by States where the Legis-
latures have been unable TO agree upon
redistricting laws. Thus Illinois now
has two Representatives at large.
Reasons for the Delay.
Reasons for delay In acting in this
important matter are all summed up
in the fact that several OF the States
must lose one or more seats In the
House in an apportionment based on
the population the country has had
for a decade or more. unless the total
membership Of the body is increased.
and there is vigorous opposition to
that Every State will fight TO the
last ditch against having It's deiega-
ton reduced, and since the 1920
census the States so affected have
been able TO prevent the passage OF
a reapportionment measure.
Like reasons obtain for delays In
the redistricting OF States because of
the party politics involved. The party
that controls the Legislature naturally
endeavors to have the districts laid
out so that IL can elect as large a
number OF the Representatives as pos
sible. and sometimes some weird things
have been done.
Many years ago In Massachusetts, In
redistricting for State senatorial pur-
poses, one district was carved out that
on the map had such q strange shape
that a member suggested that 1t should
be called haiamander Better call
II 'Gerry-manderr " retorted q mem
Der of the opposition, making play
upon the name Of Gov. Elbridge Gerry,
whose signature had made the law
possible. and redistricting In no.
toriously partisan way has been known
ever since as "gerrymandering
The new bill now before the House
Is anticipatory of the 1890 census and
retains the present total membership
ot the Hoiise-43b. II provides that
Immediately after the census has been
taken the Secretary OF Commerce shall
transmit 10 Congress tabuiation
showing the number Of Representa-
tives to which each State Is entitled
under reapportionment, II Con-
gress falls to reapportion In accord
with that statement, all States. II Is
provided. shall be entitled 10 the new
slIotments automatically IN the Sew
enty-third Congress. which will be
elected In November. 1882,
in all States that will have fewer
members under this apportionment than
they now have, all Representatives shall
be elected at large until the Legislatures
enact fedistfieting laws. Likewise, new
members In the States gaining In rep
rasentation will be elected at large until
legislative redistrioting has been ef"
fected.
Twenty four Seats Are Involved.
Twenty~fonr seats In the House are
involved IN the proposed app0ftionment
as 1t Is figured out on the basis Of the
latest estimates AS To what the popula~
ti0nk 0f the several States will be In
1880. Sixteen States will In The aggre-
gate lose - Representatives. while ~
States will gain that number. Missouri
will fnaa tina inruaat ntltnhaV A kD IA iIA