Evening star., 1934-12-16


NEW CAPITOL-IT
HAS TWO LEGISLATIVE CHAM.
BERS, BUT SOON ONLY ONE
WILL BE NECESSARY.
demning the amendment, but both
withdrew them when leaders decided
1t would not be wise to antagonize
Norris following.
Lawyers Were Opposed.
"And don't forget the lawyers. They
were almost unanimously opposed,
Senator Norris reminds you. "Of
course they would be-" he says with
grin on his almost boyish face and
a twinkle in his eye. I'm a lawyer,
and our profession Is traditionally
opposed to change. Fact is, learned
in my long term as chairman of the
Senate Judiciary Committee just how
stubborn lawyers can be-"
But volunteer groups OF interested
citizens sprang up everywhere Norris
spoke to aid the cause. 1t developed
| into q great non-partisan organiza-
ton, with the watch cry OF Better
Government for Nebraska"
'I was really surprised at the way
people turned to our support during
those weeks of the campaign" the
veteran Senator says.
Citizens of Nebraska who know and
respect the personal power Of George
w. Norris. weren't surprised at all
They know that he possesses a quiet
obstinacy that usually finishes what
he starts.
"Who else could have put through
the change In the Federal Con-
stitution abolishing the lame duck
session of Congress?" asks one. "Ant
who else could change the system o
| electing the President and Vice Pres
ident, as Norris soon wll?" another
echoes.
According to Norris. it was simply
matter Of informing the people o.
the merits of a one-house system
The provisions Of the amendments h
drew up originally provided for
single house of 81 members. He hae
to compromise on that point, and a!
passed by the last Legislature fol
submission to vote Of the people th'
amendment provided for minimum
of 80 members and maximum Of so
They are to be elected by districts or
a non-partisan ballot for term o.
two years, and their pay will be allo'
Gated from s37, 500 total per annum
Cites Three Reasons.
What are the good points Of such
| system? Senator Norris looks a
you with that quiet, rugged conviction
that has carried him through 46 year,
of Independent political leadership ane
outlines his three principal reason
for q one-house legislature:
/. It will definitely locate Legislative
responsibility and eliminate buck
passing.
2. Better men will be selected fol
our State assemblies.
8. 1t will be more efficient and vii
cost less than present systems.
The traditional two-house legisla
ture permits a shameful lot O.
trading, political horseplay and shift.
ing of responsibility from one hous'
to the other" says Norris. Ever.
opportunity is afforded a legislator II
cover up his tracks. He can bargain
and trade on legislation, escaping tht
effects Of his actions by maneuvers IL
scrupulous legislator can fool the peo.
pie to his hearts content.
He can't in a one-house legislature
He'll have to make good. He'll hav'
to assume the responsibility any rep.
resentative Of the people should as
sumo when he speaks their wishes II
making laws" ,
The evils of the legislative Confer.
ence Committee" would be eliminated
the Senator points out. Conferenc,
Committees, composed of a few mem
bers Of both houses, have 1t within
their power, in secret and without /,
record vote, absolutely to kill of O
modify bills and to prevent legislation
There would be no such thing as {
conference committee in one-hous,
legislature. AS to securing better mel
for the State Assemblies, Senate
Norris Is positive a higher type gen
orally will apply for office.
VIII Attract Honest Men.
Honest men-and that's the onl,
kind that ought to be in public lif,
anyhow-will be attracted to our Leg
islature under the new plan. Wha
they say and do will count as it nevel
has before. Why, I know of four o,
five former members Of the Nebraski
Legislature, truly outstanding men
who dropped out of public life becaus,
they got disguised with the horsepla.
and buck-passing Of the Legislature
who plan to offer themselves agar
under the new system.
Furthermore, the ones elected viii
make better servants of the peopl,
because Of the very responsibilit.
they must assume. That's what re
sponsibility always does to a man /
he Is honest. 1t makes him better.
recall examples Of that in my earl.
career as q circuit Judge. It was in
teresting to study how jury servic'
made any honest man attentive, sobe
and earnest In performing his duty.
The record legislator makes unde
the two-house system is PRACTICAL.
obscured by the maze Of parliamen
/ tary technicalities that surrounds tn
i na ssin1 Of laws Senator Norris thinks