Evening star., 1934-10-19
NEBRASKA TO VOTE
ON SINGLE HOUSE
Despite Senator Norris
Support, Issue Seems
Doomed to Fail.
Continued From First Page.)

to take compromise legislation wheth- |
or they are really in favor of it or net. |
The two-house system of legisla- |
ture, according to Norris, often makes |
Is possible for lobbyists and the Gin
terests" to kill legislation that is de-
signed to aid the people.
"The lobby, composed of experts |
hired by machine politicians and spe- |
cial interests" he says, lis successful
In killing legislation before these four
or five men (the Conference Com |
mittee). The present system affords
an opportunity to dishonest legis-
lator which he could not possess in
O one-house Legislature. 1t Is. there
fore, an open invitation to the dis
reputable man to seek Office in the
Legislature. He is often enabled to
introduce bills with the very object
Of getting something either OF flnan-
cial or political nature which he
otherwise could not get. He wants
to be paid for killing them; and he
kills them by getting them into a
parliamentary tangle where his own
record may appear on the surface to
be perfect
Senator Norris also calls attention
TO the fact that a small, single House
OF Legislature would save the State a
lot of money although he insists that
the members should be paid ade-
quately for the important work they
will have to carry forward
Plan Apparently Doomed.
1t is safe to say that If the plan had
been advanced by man less popular
in Nebraska than Senator Norris it
would get nowhere; it would scarcely
get consideration. Even as it Is, with
the backing of the most powerful
political figure in the State today, it
seems doomed to be defeated on elec-
ton day Republicans and Democrats
alike make this prediction, including
some OF Senator Norris's old friends
and political supporters. If Norris
should prevail, it would be a great
personal triumph, signal honor to
the man who has represented the
State so long in Washington And
there are those who say that, should
the plan win, Senator Norris would
seek election as Governor two years
hence, to be first executive to see the
At present the Nebraska Legislature
Is composed Of House with 100 men,
bers and a Senate with SO members,
1ss in all. Members of these two
houses and former members do not
look with favor on the plan.
Other States, in the earlier history
OF the country, have tried out the uni
cameral system. They have all, even
tually, discarded it for the bicameral
system. And in no other State which
has the bicameral system has 1t been
proposed, at least In recent years. to
adopt the one-house Legislature. "The
American Commonwealth" by the late
LORD Bryce, declares that the only
States that ever tried to do with a sim
gle legislative house were Pennsyl-
Vanla, Georgia and Vermont, and all
OF them gave 1t up, the first two after
short trial and Vermont after so
years, in favor of the bicameral sys-
tenn. Some Of the colonies in the early
days Of this country also tried out the
unicameral system.
Avoids Senatorial Race.
This constitutional amendment seems
TO have engaged the sole attention
Of Senator Norris in this campaign.
II he has a choice between the sena-
torial candidates, he has made no open
statement OF it. Both Simmons, the
Republican candidate, and Burke, the
Democratic, would be more than de-
nghted for word from the veteran
leader. The most that Simmons can
nope for, however, is neutrality from
Norris. an ardent friend of the Roose-
welt new deal, since Simmons is at
tacking the New Deal on every occa-
sion. Whether Norris will, before cleo
ton day, publicly declare his choice re-
mains to be seen.
Nebraska, like its neighboring State
of Kansas, has another constitutional
question submitted to the voters this
year-prohibition. The proposal in
both States is to strike from their con-
stitutions the prohibition against in
toxicating liquors. This fight of the
vets to do away with dry territory
seems to have a better chance in Ne
braska than in Kansas. Kansas has
always been banner dry State po-
htically. Shades of Carrie Nation and
her hatchet still wander over the land.
Gcv. Landon of Kansas has been and
continues to be dry, though not a
fanatic on the subject on this proposal
for constitutional prohibition repeal.
In Nebraska, the Democratic candidate
for Governor, Roy L. Cochran, has
recently come out in favor of repeal
after shilly-shallying around for weeks.
Dwight Griswold, the Republican
nominee for Governor of Nebraska,
has kept hands off. holding that this
is matter for the voters to de-
eide, as they will on election day.
In Kansas the drys are we'll or
ganized and have been conducting a
real fight. The vets, on the other
hand, have no such organization. They
are counting on the general trend of
the country away from prohibition
In the main, it is the dry rural coun-
ties against the wet cities in this fight
In both States. If Kansas should vote
wet, like its old dry ally. Maine, then,
indeed. the dry cause will be complete
ly fiat in this country.