I do not think one or two houses would
have much to do with that. I think part of
that problem has been cured as a result
of the reapportionment of both houses. I
must also add that it did not pass what I
wanted to pass. It did not pass my bill.
I might say with respect to the U. S.
House of Representatives or the Congress
of the United States, that many critics are
concerned with what we do not pass, but
actually they are far more concerned that
Congress does not pass what the critics
want them to pass, not that they do not
exercise their will.
It is my pleasure to be in two Congresses
that produced much legislation because that
is what they wanted to do. I would suggest
to you that the examples that have been
given do not persuade me that there would
be anything magic about our having a uni-
cameral one-house system. Nebraska, I do
not think can be used as an example either
for or against; it does not have the prob-
lems we have in this State.
1 spent many hours in the major cities
of this country as a member of the Edu-
cation and Labor Committee concerned
with the poverty bill. I can tell you that
the unicameral city councils of the great
urban centers of this country have not
done a creditable job with respect to solv-
ing the problems of their communities.
There is nothing magic about one house. I
shall, undoubtedly, continue to be a tradi-
tionalist and support the bicameral system
for the State of Maryland.
THE CHAIRMAN: Is there any dele-
gate who desires to speak in favor?
Delegate Willoner?
DELEGATE WILLONER: Mr. Chair-
man, I rise to speak in support of the uni-
cameral legislature. I do that because I
think it is one of the most important issues
confronting this body. The argument just
made by Delegate Sickles is an interesting
argument. It is the argument of the tradi-
tionalist. Nevertheless, the history that has
developed in our state legislatures as has
been pointed out in the prior discussion,
has shown that they have not delivered and
the answer has been that the people have
gone to the federal government.
I think we are all states righters here
or we would not be here, in that we believe
the State of Maryland should continue to
exist as the State of Maryland.
1 challenge you that if we do not act in
this area and give the State of Maryland |
the strongest possible government, we all
may end up within the next hundred years
as the Eastern District of the United
States.
It seems to me that we are moving in
the direction of a strong executive. We are
moving in the direction of a strong ju-
diciary. But we want to hamper our legis-
lature. That is the body that is closest to
the people. That is the body that directly
represents the people. That is the body that
should be the most powerful. Yet we want
to hamper it with this two-house method.
It just seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that
this is an opportunity to lead other states
into a movement of getting government
back to the people, back to the states. I,
personally, believe the State of Maryland
should continue to exist, that it is a viable
area and a logical area for government. I
think perhaps if we do not take this step
we will be taking a step backwards inas-
much as we will have to continue, as the
people have in the past, to go to the fed-
eral government to have their problems an-
swered.
It has happened in the past, not only
when the federal government has not acted
in a bicameral legislature. They have gone
to the courts and gotten the answers, but
the courts are so insulated from the people,
it is silly. We heard much talk in this Con-
vention by conservatives, for example, that
these nine old men are running our country.
Perhaps if the legislature had acted, the
people would have been able to set the
standard by which they wanted to live
without going to the courts.
It is a sad thing that this has happened,
but it has. I feel the unicameral system
will lead us into the twenty-first century
and give us the kind of government we
want.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any other dele-
gate desire to speak against the amend-
ment? Delegate Hutchinson.
DELEGATE HUTCHINSON: Mr.
Chairman, I believe Mr. Willoner's key
word was the word "perhaps." "Perhaps"
the unicameral system will lead us into the
future. "Perhaps" it will not. But we have
seen that the bicameral system in the State
of Maryland has been the system that has
been effective. The people have been well-
represented. The legislature has done a
good job.
As it was pointed out before, the state
legislature in 1966 was one known to be a
very effective organization; it worked well
and worked well together. |
