single member districts, we will not be
able to see that, and therefore not only
deny the good of this State, but the good
of the City; and it bothers me somewhat
when I see a man who has just the oppo-
site point of view speak about small county
representation, when what he is really
worried about is control in Baltimore City.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Burgess.
DELEGATE BURGESS: I rise in oppo-
sition to the amendment, Mr. Chairman,
and let me preface my remarks by saying
I care not a rap for machine politics. I
came down here to represent people, and
that is what I propose to speak to. The
basic question we are dealing with here
is whether or not residents of certain coun-
ties are going to have real honest to God
operative representation. Quite frankly,
were I a resident of a western county or
an eastern county, neither of which I re-
side in, I would give serious thought to
secession from the State of Maryland and
hope for annexation with one of our sister
states, because, quite frankly, a resident of
Garrett County can look forward to being
represented hopefully by one member of
the House of Delegates in conjunction with
a representative or partial representative
of one other county, hopefully—and at best,
only hopefully.
These people in the eastern shore coun-
ties and the western counties contribute
not only to recreational areas and our rec-
reational enjoyment, but our economic de-
velopment, too. I think they are entitled
to some realistic form of representation,
and not this token representation which
they would have by an 80 member House
of Delegates.
I say to you in all sincerity that they
make a real contribution. We penalize them
as a State, for example, by acquiring a
disproportionate number of, for example,
State forests, as are plentiful in Garrett
County. We have a superabundance of Bay
bridges proposed so that we can get to the
eastern counties, but we do not live there.
We only enjoy what these people provide.
It is now suggested that they should have
what is at best a token representation, and,
ladies and gentlemen, I say this is unfair.
It is almost unbelievable to thing that we
would reduce this to a situation where we
have a name and hopefully part of a warm
body to represent a large portion of our
population. |
THE CHAIRMAN. Does any delegate
desire to spea^ in favor of the amendment?
Delegate Hardwicke.
DELEGATE HARDWICKE: Mr. Chair-
man, Members of the Committee:
It is unfortunate that on this particular
subject the question of county versus people
representation should be interjected because
I think that everybody here concedes that
whichever way we go there is no longer
any possibility of county representation. If
we go to 105 we are going to get down to
the same lack of county representation
that we would have with 80. I think also
that the question of better representation
of the people in a House consisting of 80
versus a House consisting of 105 is diffi-
cult to measure.
It may be that, by having fewer con-
stituents in the .105 man House, you will
possibly have better contact with your
voters, but eventually, as the population of
this State increases, you are going to find
that you have one for 50,000, one for
75,000, one for 100,000. Inevitably the
number of people that you represent is
going to go up and up and up, regardless
of the size.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Hardwicke,
there is just one-half minute of time left.
DELEGATE HARDWICKE: Thank you.
It seems to me that the question is one
of organization in the House. I think that
Delegate James put his finger on it very
neatly when he said the leadership con-
trols much more strongly in a large house,
and in a smaller house every man has a
better and more able voice. That I think is
the key, and that has been my experience
as a legislator, as well as Senator James.
THE CHAIRMAN: The time fixed for
debate having expired, the question arises
on the adoption of the first portion of
Amendment No. 3, to Committee Recom-
mendation LB-I the first portion being the
first sentence as printed on lines 8 down to
and including the third word in line 12 of
Amendment No. 3.
A vote Aye is a vote in favor of the
adoption of the amendment, a vote in favor
erf 40-80. A vote No is a vote against the
amendment, a vote in favor of the Com-
mittee Recommendation of 35-105. The
Chair will have a roll call vote.
Are you ready for the question? (Call
for the question.) A vote Aye is a vote in
favor of the amendment, 40-80. A vote No, |
