The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-09
The Peoples Forum
For Unicameral Body

0 the EQ1COr or The ARe-deTdlQ.
 The undersigned is very much in terested in your very informing ed itorial in Sundays Age-Herald headed, Norris on Bi-cameral Body" In this connection, permit me to respectfully invite your at tention to a clipping, hereto attach ed, taken from The Age-Herald of Sunday, August 8, 1915, which has to do with the same subject, this matter being embodied in house bill 1870, as introduced in the house of representative of the legislature of the state of Alabama. The under signed was assisted in the prepara- tion of this bill by the able adminis- trative ability of Dr. Thomas M. Owen, at that time director of the department of archives and history. We secured our data from the state of Kansas, where this idea of unI- cameral legislature originated.
 Particular attention is invited to the closing paragraph of my state ment, in which appeal was made for consideration or this matter by the able editors of Alabama's high class newspapers, inasmuch as it was my opinion then, and is now, that editors do more to mould pub lie sentiment through their editorial columns than any other educational agency. With the hope that we may revive and continue the discus sion of what still appears as meri- torious solution for the flood of un- necessary bills that are placed on us at periodical intervals, and as shown in our good roads amendment, often prove to be unconstitutional, I would respectfully request that you reprint this 1915, item. It is thought that by bringing such mat ters as this before the public more could be done to achieve the end result than in any other manner. And, too, the effort made in 1915 was so similar to the proposition as advanced by Senator George w. Norris of Nebraska that it would be a matter of interest to your readers to know this. The bill put before the Alabama legislature in 1915 provided for legislature or board of thirty-six men, whereas Senator SNorris suggests thirty, and in line with his recommendation, this Ala bama bill anticipated that the choicest and most philanthropic men would be found to compose this unicameral bdy.
 ROSS c. SPEIR.
 Birmingham, Ala, Feb. T. 1923.
 The pertinent portion of the ar ticle referred to follows.-Editor.
 "With legislature of one cham Der, to be composed of thirty-six members, chosen in legislative dis tricts or in the congressional dis tricts and from the state at large, there should be economy in time, money and laws.
 "With the responsibility of stat utes fixed on this one body there would follow paucs;y of new laws. There would be tendency to fol- low the lines of public sentiment. Composed necessarily of our most able and deliberative men, such legislature would command more respect. There would be less ridi- cule and more regard.
 "Efficiency-the slogan in mod ern corporate enterprises-would become a slogan for the, people !! And passing strange it would be! When have we seriously undertaken public duties, that is, from general standpoint?
 "There are successful captains of industry. Why nor successful captains of legislation?
 "This proposition merits and should receive the careful consider ation of the able editors of Ala hama's high-class newspapers. These able and intelligent men do more to mould public sentiment than all other classes combined. They are necessarily students of govern ment and teachers of progress. We hope that they will fairly and thor oughly discuss the new step toward mi Q n, oro1 1on;c otY1ro v