Evening star., 1936-11-22
NEBRASKA TO TRY
0NE-HOUSE PLAN
Legislature Will Assemble
First Time Under New
System January 5.
BY J. A. OLEARY.

b1 y. n. " LEAR1s
Students of government will watch
with interest Nebraska's experience
with a one-house Legislature, which
meets for the first time on jan
usry 5.
But, while other States may observe
the new system and consider the ad-
visibility of copying it, there are no
indications the unicameral plan will
be proposed for Congress, or that the
suggestion would make much head
way If advocated.
Instead of State Senate of 33
members and State House of 100,
the new governing body of Nebraska
will consist Of 43 legislators, elected
early this month for a term of two
years. Not only has the new Legis-
lature been merged into single as
sembly and reduced in number, but
its members were chosen at the polls
on non-partiSan basis. The con-
stitutional amendment establishing
the new plan requires candidates for
the Legislature to run without any
indication on the ballot that they are
Affiliated with or Endorsed by any po-
litical party.
The theory on which this condi-
ton was included by the sponsors
of the plan was that the major ma
tional and international issues di-
viding the political parties are sep
arate and distinct from the prob
lens confronting State Legislature,
and that the two should not be con-
fused in the mind of the voter when
he goes to the ballot box.
Gets Members on Record. 8,
Another argument advanced by ad-
yocates of the change has been thai
the inevitable differences of opinion
between the branches of a two-house
Legislature necessitate the final draft
ing Of the laws in conference commit
tees. This process, it was contended.
made it difficult to put individual
legislators on record on specific phases
Of law, or on the details as finally
worked out
Economy in the cost of State law
making was another objective sought
by the sponsors of the Nebraska plan,
but this was secondary to such funda-
mental features as the non-partsan
selection of members and the estab- |
hshment of single law-making body
Although the Nebraska constitu-
tional amendment, adopted in 1894,
provides for regular biennial ses-
sion, it left leeway for the new Legis-
lature to meet more often if deemed
advisable.
The unicameral idea has been
broached in the Legislatures of
number of other States in recent
years, and the actual operation of
the plan in one State next year is
likely to lead to further discussion
for and against the proposition in
these other Legislatures.
Equal Senate Voice.
The fact that all of the States, |
whether small or large, are assured |
Of equal representation in the United |
States Senate, along with represent
tation on the basis of population in |
the House, Is one of the main reasons.
however. why observers here do not |
believe the unicameral plan would |
have much chance for adoption in the |
legislative set-up Of the Federal Gov
eminent.
In the early days of the Nations |
history three OF the States-Georgia,
Pennsylvania and Vermont-tried out |
the unicameral system of State gov
ernment, but for the past 100 years |
all Of the States have had bicameral
Legislatures.
One of the early advocates Of the
one-house Legislature in Nebraska
was former Representative John N.
Norton, who proposed it in 1913 1t
did not take hold Immediately, how
ever. Ten years later Nebraska's vet
eran United States Senator George
w. Norris took up the proposal,
worked vigorously for it, and was the
leading advocate Of adoption of the
necessary amendment to the Nebraska
constitution two years ago. Former
Representative Norton, who served in
the national House of Representatives
in the 10th and 72nd Congresses, was
elected this month as one of the 43
members of his States first uni
caneral Legislature.