the county boundaries will go out of exist-
ence, or be obliterated, as such.
It is only an expectation of outfitting and
equipping two different bodies to meet dif-
ferent responsibilities.
I think the -move in the direction of the
40-80 is in the right direction to accomplish
that separation.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recog-
nizes Delegate Pullen to speak against. Be-
fore you start to speak, may I call to the
attention of the Delegates that the total
time allowed for this portion of debate is
only twenty minutes, and although the
limitation for a member is five minutes, it
would be better if you each of you would
keep below the five-minute limit if possible.
Delegate Pullen?
DELEGATE PULLEN: All 1 need, sir,
is thirty seconds.
Parochialism is a state of mind and not
one of geography. I would like to support
the comments of Delegate Sherbow, but 1
would like to call your attention primarily
to the fact that this amendment does not
call for 40-80. Theoretically, you could have
a General Assembly composed of two sena-
tors, or two representatives and one sen-
ator.
In other words, the size of the House and
of the Senate is left to the General As-
sembly, and does not necessarily mean 40
and 80.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any other dele-
gate desire to speak in favor of the amend-
ment?
Delegate Henderson?
DELEGATE HENDERSON: I shall be
very brief. I simply want to agree with
Judge Sherbow's statement that the most
desirable thing is to have contact between
the legislature and the constituents and
the voters of the state.
One thing I have observed over the years
is that matters are not debated in the Gen-
eral Assembly on the floor. Matters are
handled in committee, and the only people
really who speak on the floor after the
noses have been counted are those who are
showing off or have no hope of winning in
a debate.
I think the situation in this assembly is
quite different, and I believe that by cutting
down the size of the General Assembly,
public debate on the floor and therefore |
public interest and contact with the voters
will be greatly enhanced.
For that reason, among others, including
all the excellent reasons stated by Senator
James, I would favor 80 over 105.
THE CHAIRMAN: Do any further dele-
gates desire to speak against?
Delegate Della?
DELEGATE DELLA: Mr. Chairman,
ladies and gentlemen of the Convention, I
find myself being opposed to the amend-
ment offered by the President of the Senate
and his colleague for several reasons. First
of all, we have heard in the committee room
that by 1970, ten counties, small counties,
will be without representation. With our
present figure of 143, or 105, rather, I beg
your pardon, those ten counties must look
to someone for representation. If we reduce
105 to 80, I do not know how many small
counties will be included and added to those
ten by 1970 under the figure of 105.
We had testimony in the Committee by
the Speaker of the House that the present
number of the House is a workable unit.
We heard testimony about the editorials in
the Star and the Post and the Baltimore
Sun that the session just passed was work-
able and recognized as a legitimate legisla-
ture, and one that we should be proud of
in the State of Maryland.
Unfortunately, I do not understand some
of the testimony that was given, or some of
the arguments made yesterday, that we do
not know what is happening to bills. I
served with a blind man from Allegany
County who knew where the bills were, and
I am sure that anyone with good sight can
look at the dockets and find out where a bill
is at any given time.
I certainly disagree with the delegate
from Anne Arundel County that no debate
is effective on the floor. Apparently he has
never seen the Senate in action. If he has,
he may have been in the category of the
delegate from Allegany County, who could
not see. He certainly could have heard.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, we are play-
ing a numbers game. What number is suit-
able to represent the State of Maryland?
It is 80-40, 105, 135, 120-40?
I saw fit to go on two minority reports,
only because I recognize that the small
counties must have some representation.
They have added to the history of the State
of Maryland, and if we are to ignore them
just because we come from a large district, |
