Evening star., 1951-08-25
The Political Mil ],
Congress Cruckdown
On Redistrictine Seen
celIer Bill Would Block seuting
OF Some State Delegations
By Gould Lincoln

Congress, during the session which
opens next January. may determine
whether to crack down on States which
have failed to bring their congressional
districts into line as regards population.
President Truman early this year recon-
nended that legislation be enacted to
prevent continuance Of the wide dis
crepancies that exist. Chairman Celler
Of the House Judiciary Committee is the
author Of bill which would refuse to
seat in the House of Representatives
delegations from States in which the
congressional districts had population
variations Of more than Is per cent from
the average district. Hearings before q
Judiciary subcommittee are still in
progress.
While some of the States have made
an effort to remedy this situation, there
are many which continue to have glar-
ing discrepancies. The 1860 census has
emphasized this evil. The Is per cent
variance proposed in the Celler bill ac-
cords closely with the Presidents sug-
gestion that percentage permitting
range Of about $4,000 above and below
, the present Q950 census) average of
$4,000 persons per congressional dis
sAANo WYNN HAObubAy NC ouluClCub dllOWS
ance for the practical difficulties faced
by the States in drawing up district
boundaries.
Summary Compiled.
The American Political Science Asso-
citation recently compiled a summary
showing how the districts in the various
States fail to reach the degree Of uni.
formity In congressional district popula.
ton recommended by the President.
California, which already has redis-
tricted so as to add seven additional dis
tricts, in accordance with the reappor-
tionment Of Representatives following
the 1850 census. is an example. OF its
80 congressional districts, Is are out of
line in the matter Of population, when
the Is per cent variance is considered.
Its redistricting contains spread of al
most 100000. Its lowest district has
$4,000 population, and its highest
440, 900.
Michigan is another offender of major
proportions. Under the new census the
State gains one congressional district
and the Legislature has merely divided
the old 18th district to give the addi-
tlonal district, without making any at
tempt to bring about uniformity of
population in all the districts. Ten out
OF eighteen OF its districts do not con-
form to the is per cent variance in
population. 1t has one district under
zOO.OOO population, nine between 2O0.-
OOO anq 100000, two between 300 .OO0
and $4,000 and six between $50 900 and
100000.
New York Still to Act.
New York, which loses two congress.
Slonal districts and seats in the HOUSE
under the 1850 census, has still to re-
district. Should its Legislature fail To
act-wh1ch is not expected-all its 43
members OF the House would be elected
at large" that is. in Statewide vote.
Unuer the 1910 census, with As Repre-
Sentatlves in the present Congress. II
OF the districts have greater popula-
lion variance than Is per cent which
the Ceiler bill would establish as a
standard
OHIO has done a pretty job at re-
/ aiSSt9rlctlng, Sl9 reducing the spread in popu-
iaIlon which was formerly 900. 900 for
one district and 10000 for the smallest.
Inc nigh and low figures now are 545.-
OOO and 224,000. The redistricting has
enminated one Congressman at large.
Inc Celler bill, in addition to calling
Tor uniformity in population figures for
the various districts, demands that the
districts be compact and contiguous. In
other words, it strikes directly at the
practice Of ''gerrymandering" for the
benefit OF one political party or another.
The bill is not likely to 60 through
congress without struggle, and with
out amendment. 1t may be changed So
that the proposed act will not take eject
until after the SD Congress is seated.
ana perhaps not until after the next
decennial census. But definitely there
Is determination to establish yard-
: SUCK to which the States must conform
In liking the limits Of their congressional
districts. so as to give uniformity in the
matter Of representation.