Population and Congressional Representation. Under the act to apportion representatives in Congress among the States under the Federal census of population in 1890, which passed Congress and was approved February 7, 1891, the whole number of representives after March 4, 1893, will be 356. In accordance with the act, the several States will be represented in the lower House of the Ffty-third Congress and will be entitled to electoral votes as follows: Alabama, 9 representatives and 11 electoral votes; Arkansas, 6 representatives and 8 electoral votes; California, 7 representatives and 9 electoral votes; Colorado, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; Connecticut, 4 representatives and 6 electoral votes; Delaware, 1 representative and 3 electoral votes; Florida, 2 representives and 4 electoral votes; Georgia, 11 representatives and 13 electoral votes; Idaho, 1 representative and 3 electoral votes; Illinois, 22 representatives and 24 electoral votes; Indiana, 13 representatives and 15 electoral votes; Iowa, 11 representatives and 13 electoral votes; Kansas, 8 representatives and 10 electoral votes; Kentucky, 11 representatives and 13 electoral votes; Louisiana, 6 representatives and 8 electoral votes; Maine, 4 representatives and 6 electoral votes; Maryland, 6 representatives and 8 electoral votes; Massachusetts, 13 representatives and 15 electoral votes; Michigan, 12 representatives and 14 electoral votes; Minnesota, 7 representatives and 9 electoral votes; Mississippi, 7 representatives and 9 electoral votes; Missouri, 15 representatives and 17 electoral votes; Montana, 1 representative and 3 electoral votes; Nebraska, 6 representatives and 8 electoral votes; Nevada, 1 representative and 3 electoral votes; New Hampshire, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; New Jersey, 8 representatives and 10 electoral votes; New York, 34 representatives and 36 electoral votes; North Carolina, 9 representatives and 11 electoral votes ; North Dakota, 1 representative and 3 electoral votes, Ohio, 21 representatives and 22 electoral votes; Oregon, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; Pennsylvania; 30 representatives and 32 electoral votes; Rhode Island, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; South Carolina, 7 representatives and 9 electoral votes; South Dakota, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; Tennessee, 10 representatives and 12 electoral votes; Texas, 13 representatives and 15 electoral votes; Vermont, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; Virginia, 10 representatives and 12 electoral votes; Washington, 2 representatives and 4 electoral votes; West Virginia, 4 representatives and 6 electoral votes; Wisconsin, 10 representatives and 12 electoral votes; Wyoming, 1 representative and 3 electoral votes. By this apportionment the membership of the House of Representatives will be increased from 332 to 356, and 223 electoral votes will be necessary for a choice. When a State fails to re-district before the election following the re-apportionment, the additional members of the House from that State are elected by the entire State instead of by districts, and such members are known as Congressmen at Large. Popular Names of Cities.-The nicknames given to the various prominent cities in the United States are as follows: Brooklyn, N. Y., City of Churches; Boston, Hub of the Universe; Baltimore, Monumental City; Buffalo, Queen City of the Lakes; Chicago, Garden City; Cincinnati, Queen City; Cleveland, Forest City; Detroit, City of the Straits; Hannibal, Bluff City; Indianapolis, Railroad City; Keokuk, Gate City; Louisville, Falls City; Lowell, City of Spindles; New York, Gotham, Empire City; New Orleans, Crescent City; Nashville, City of Rocks; New Haven, City of Elms; Philadelphia, Quaker City, City of Brotherly Love; Pittsburg, Iron City; Portland, Me., Forest City; Rochester, Flour City; St. Louis, Mound City; Springfield, Ill., Flower City; Washington, D. C., City of Magnificent Distances. Porcelaine Currency-or more properly Wampum -was a kind of money used originally by the Indians and later adopted by the English, Dutch and French colonists. It consisted of coins or beads made from the black or purple eye of the common hard shell clam and from the stem of the shell of the periwinkle. Through the center of the coin or bead, a small hole was drilled and they were then strung on threads or strings made from the sinews of deer, or else woven into various kinds of belts. The English, French and Dutch colonists adopted wampum as a medium of exchange, the New Netherlands colony records 1662 note "kept in wampum and beaver skins." Massachusetts colony in 1687 ordered it should pass "six a penny " for any sum under twelve pence; Connecticut and New Haven in 1640 adopted it also, a fair fathom of purple wampum being worth ten shillings, and one fathom of white wampum five shillings. The records of New Amsterdam (New York city) of 1641 authorizes "four beads of good black well-strung wampum or eight of the white" to be reckoned the value of one stuyver, a Dutch coin worth about one cent. Wampum was called by the Dutch, Zewant. Pork. A term used in politics to designate the spoils of legislation. (See Log Rolling). Postal Currency. This currency was the invention of General Spinner, who represented the Syracuse district of New York in Congress and was appointed Treasurer of the United States by President Lincoln. During the war and until the resumption of specie payment there was a great scarcity of change. Spinner being appealed to from all quarters to take some measure to supply the demand for small change, silver having vanished, was powerless, as he had no law under which be could act. In his dilemma he thought of the postage stamp, and sent down to the post-office department and purchased a quantity of stamps. He then ordered a package of the paper upon which Government securities are printed, which he cut into various sizes. On these pieces he pasted stamps to represent different amounts, thus initiating a substitute for fractional silver. This was not, however, a Government transaction in any sense; it could not be. The General distributed his improvised currency among the clerks of the department, and finally through imitation it be came the medium of small exchange. From this General Spinner got his idea of fractional currency, and went before Congress with it which body readily adopted it by an act July 17, 1862, authorizing it to be used as currency in sums of less than five dollars. Postal Service. The first mention of a postal service in the United States is that of the General Court of Massachusetts in 1639: "It is ordered that notice be given that Richard Fairbanks, his house in Boston is the place appointed for all letters which are brought from beyond the seas, or are to be sent thither to be left with him, and he is to take care that they are to be delivered or sent according to the direction. And he is allowed for every letter a penny, and must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this kind." Postmaster-General. (See Post-Office Depart ment.) Post-Office Department is one of the executive departments of the government. It was established by Act of May 8, 1794. The Postmaster-General, who is at its head, is a member of the President's Cabinet, by virtue of a custom that originated in the time of Andrew Jackson. His salary is $8,000 per annum. He is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The department has charge of the transmission of mail matter, the preparation of stamps and postal cards, the issue of money orders and postal notes, the establishment and discontinuance of post-offices, and the appointment of postmasters whose salaries are $1,000 or under; of these there were 61,387, June 30, 1891. During the fiscal year of 1891 the revenue of the department was $65,931,786, and its expenditures $71,662,463. In the transaction of this business the PostmasterGeneral is assisted by 4,000 Third Assistant... Fourth Assistant.. Superintendent of Foreign Mails................................................................. 3,000 Superintendent of Money Orders............................................................ 3,50C |