Evening star., 1928-05-31
Congress Is Criticized Again
For Delays In Reapportionment

Failure of Congress to do something
about reapportionment Of It's member
ship again is the subject Of vigorous
criticism and demands for compliances
with the requirements Of the Constitu-
ton. The whole question Of continued
postponement is dealt with In comment
on the recent vote Of the House sending
back to committee the Fem bill pro-
posing future action on the basis Of the
1890 census.
The Fem bill to provide membership
on the basis OF the 1880 census" de-
clareS the San Francisco Bulletin RE
publican), lis an attempt at an impu-
dent evasion Of congressional RESPONSE
bility. It seeks to bind the action of a
future Congress, and in any case. II the
question is to be shelved until after the
next census, why pass q bill calling upon
future Congress TO discharge q duty
evaded by each Congress since the last
decennial census? 1t is sheer bluff, and
TO pass the Fem bill would be merely
putting the bluff on Official record.
Politicians are not to be trusted with the
work of reapportionment. The task
should be. turned over to the Supreme
Court or some Independently constituted
commission"
THE matter may 60 on indefinitely, /"
remarks the Portsmouth Sun (Republi-
CAM which offers the advice Some
injured State should make an appeal to
the Supreme Court. 1t might refuse to
take action. but public attention would
thus be made to focus on q very grave
matter"
Delegations of the States that would
lose" according to the Pittsburgh Post
Gazette (Republican). ''are represented
as lined up against those that would
gain. The strength of the former Is
given as ITO and that of the latter as
1875. To the average individ-
ual the only thing that should decide Is
the constitutional requirement. If some
States now have more representation
than they are entitled to, correction
should be made without further delay.
The States that are entitled to more
Representatives should have them. At
tempts to delay that plain requirement
of justice and the Constitution should
not be tolerated"
What Congress 1t Isl" exclaims the
Detroit News independently. "A House
that refuses reapportionment for eight
years. A Senate which declines to take
up the matter on the ground that It Is
one which concerns the House only!
What is the Constitution between Con-
greSsmen? Such Is the body that pre-
sumes to make laws for the people to
obey. itself disobedient to the supreme
law of the land. The Con-
crosses OF the past had leadership. Reed
and Cannon we're denounced as cxars.
but they stood by the Constitution. To-
day the House dances to penny pipe"
IF Congress has the right to dodge
one reapportionment," asserts the
Worcester Telegram independently, lit
has the right To dodge all reapportion-
ments. and 1t has the right to bring
about and maintain a situation under
which the Representatives are not ap-
portioned among the States according
To their respective numbers. But the
Constitution definitely says that Repre-
sentatives shall be apportioned among
the States according TO their respective
numbers," Quoting from q protest by
Representative Jacohstein of New York,
the Great Falls Tribune tDemocraticl
remarks. Here Is interesting proof that,
although Congress as whole Is to
blame. there are protesting individual
members who are guiltless"
"Of course. the first pretext for de-
lay" recalls the San Antonio Express
independent. Democratic), was the
unsettled condition OF after-war popu-
latlon. Certainly that excuse Is no
longer valid. but the inequality Is con-
tinued, Congress evidently has
acfuples against voting away any men,
ber's Job"
The Constitution" observes the Lam
sing State Journal. has not been 80
explicit as 10 tell exactly and precisely
how 1t shall be done. This being so,
pretaxt or loophole or valid objection Is
lett 10 members Ia Congress Yes. we
must reappnftion the Constitution says
So agree ail uemhefa OF Congress. but
- ssan ~ a measure to that end n