DELEGATE JAMES: I did not write
the Minority Report, so I am not prepared
to back up that particular point. However,
I can cite you the fact that the California
legislature is regarded by observers in the
political world of state governments as
probably the most progressive and best or-
ganized state legislature in the United
States. I think I can say that on the basis
of my readings and from listening to
Speaker Unruh and knowing what is going
on in state legislatures in this country. I
think that generally is an accepted fact.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Taylor.
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: You under-
stand that in California the citizens voted
on a fair housing proposal to make it il-
legal ; and of course in the State of Mary-
land just recently, in the last session of
the General Assembly, the Senate and
House passed a limited fair housing law
to cover new housing in the State of Mary-
land. And, of course, what has California
done in the area of housing?
DELEGATE JAMES: California is an
area in which there are many radical
groups. I think in this area Maryland may
be ahead of California. The argument you
are making is really an argument against
the initiative, because—
THE CHAIRMAN: I think Delegate
Taylor is asking a question.
DELEGATE JAMES: I understand. I
am answering it. I would say the question
relates basically to the question of whether
you should have the initiative. California
has the initiative, and the problem about
which you speak was generated, not by the
legislature, but by the procedure of the
initiative, in which the people put a law
on the ballot and adopted it without the
participation of the California legislature.
That was the problem there.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any
further questions?
(There was no response.)
THE CHAIRMAN: If not, while Dele-
gate James returns to his seat to present
an amendment, I would like to make two
announcements.
We are honored today to have in the
gallery the Honorable Stanford Hoff, for-
mer senator, and also a member of the Con-
stitutional Convention Commission, and in
addition, a delegation from Washington
County, including Mr. William Donaldson,
a member of the House of Delegates. |
We are delighted to have all of you here.
(Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Delegate James
for the purpose of offering an amendment,
or will it be offered by Delegate dark?
This will be Amendment No. 2 to Com-
mittee Recommendation LB-I.
Please strike out the printed words "To
Amendment No."
The clerk will read the amendment.
READING CLERK: Amendment No. 2
to Committee Recommendation LB-I, by
Delegates Clark, Hanson, Hopkins and Sol-
lins: On pages 1 and 2 of Committee Rec-
ommendation LB-I strike all of section 3.04
"Composition of the Legislature" and in-
sert in lieu thereof the following section:
"Section 3.04. Composition of the Legisla-
ture
The number of members of each house
of the legislature shall be as prescribed by
law, but the number of delegates shall not
exceed eighty and the number of senators
shall be one half the number of delegates.
Each delegate shall represent one delegate
district and each senator shall represent
one senate district. Each senate district
shall be composed of two whole delegate
districts."
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair was, of
course, in error in announcing that this
was Amendment No. 2. It is Amendment
No. 3. Please mark this Amendment No. 3.
Is the amendment seconded?
(Whereupon, the amendment was sec-
onded.)
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recog-
nizes Delegate Gallagher.
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Chair-
man, I move that the proposed amendment
be divided, by dividing the question inline
12, at the end of the word "delegates," so
that. the Committee of the Whole will have
before it simply at this particular time the
question of the 40-80 numerical composi-
tion and will not have before it on the vote
the question of the single-member districts.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair would be
disposed to rule that this would still be two
separate distinct questions.
Do the sponsors agree?
DELEGATE JAMES: Yes.
THE CHAIRMAN: Amendment No. 3,
then, will be divided. The question now be- |
