until the last ten days. It seemed to us that
given the problems of the last few days of
the General Assembly, it is not likely that
careful and detailed consideration is given
to that much legislation.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any
further questions of the minority spokes-
man ?
(There was no response.)
THE CHAIRMAN: If not, we will pro-
ceed—Delegate Pullen?
DELEGATE PULLEN: As a matter of
interest, would you advocate unicameralism
for the federal government?
DELEGATE HANSON: No.
DELEGATE PULLEN: You would not.
Why?
DELEGATE HANSON: The federal
government, it seems to me, is based upon
quite a different principle of governing
than is the state government. The federal
government is a federal union, and in Madi-
son's phrase, a compound republic of people
and states, in which the states are repre-
sented through the members of the U. S.
Senate.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Pullen.
DELEGATE PULLEN: Are we not now
coming to one-man, one-vote and doing
away with that?
DELEGATE HANSON: Not in the U. S.
Congress.
DELEGATE PULLEN: Now the other
question:
Are these people going to be senators
or delegates?
DELEGATE HANSON: I am reason-
ably indifferent to what they are called
constitutionally if we assemble them to-
gether in one house. I would be most happy
to submit to a title of great distinction
which this Convention might confer on the
members of that house.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any
further questions?
Delegate Chabot?
DELEGATE CHABOT: Would you feel
that the responsibility of the legislature
which you suggest would be enhanced by
making it unicameral rather than bicam-
eral would be further enhanced by elimi-
nating the gubernatorial veto? : |
DELEGATE HANSON: No. I do not
think so. The power of the legislature un-
doubtedly would be enhanced by eliminating
the gubernatorial veto, but it seems to me
that in a government of divided powers
there is a need for a certain amount of
creative friction between the executive and
legislative branches of the government and
that both the legislature and the executive
ought to participate in the policy-making
process. The existence of the veto as well
as the existence of the power of the gov-
ernor to submit recommendations to the
General Assembly, are important parts of
that process.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate L. Taylor.
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: Delegate
Hanson,did you consider the effect of any
regional problems being solved more easily
by the combination of three or four dele-
gates under the unicameral system?
DELEGATE HANSON: Excuse me, do
you mean the combination of three or four
delegates in a single district or in a dis-
trict?
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: In several
districts. Say, for instance, if they had a
regional problem under discussion in the
unicameral body, would it be easier for
them to solve this particular problem or
would it be more difficult?
DELEGATE HANSON: I do not think
one can make a very good judgment on
that kind of a question.
I think it would depend upon the prob-
lem itself and its complexity more so than
the basis of districting. That however,
might have an important bearing on it.
We favor single-member district, as does
the committee report, because we believe
that this further focuses attention on the
acts of each member of the legislature and
holds him personally accountable to this
constituency without the ability to diffuse
that responsibility.
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: Did you ask
yourself this question, would a Senate body
along with the House of Delegates, allow
more flexibility in solving regional prob-
lems?
DELEGATE HANSON: I do not know
that we asked ourselves that question spe-
cifically, no.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Hanson, I
think Delegate Taylor's questions were de-
signed to ask whether or not a delegation
from a region could be more effective in |
