Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1918 — Two Senators for Each State. [ARTICLE]

Two Senators for Each State.

Congress consists of two senators from each state, the smallest state as well as the largest; and a’ number of representatives, according to population. The basis of representation, or number of inhabitants for a representative, is fixed by congress under each recurring census so as to secure adequate representation for every state without making the house too large and unwieldy. The Constitution of the United States, adopted in 1789, said the number of representatives should not exceed one for every 30,000 of population, and as no census had yet been taken, 30,000 was adopted as the ratio of representation and the population of the different spates was estimated. By this process ihe first house of representatives -consisted of 65 members. Since then congress has passed 13 apportionment acts, under 13 different censuses, changing. the basis of representation every time except once. In 1800 and in 1810 the ratio was fixed at one representative for 33,000 population. In 1820 the ratio was increased to 35,000, and it has been increased every tenth year since till it is now 211,877, while the membership of the house das increased from 65 to 435.