The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-21
NEBRASKA'S
UNICAMERAL
SESSION NEAR
Veteran U. 5. Senator Nor
ris Will See "Last Re-
quest as Reality
By ROBERT KELLY
limited Press Staff Correspondent

LINCOLN, .Ncb., Dec. Il. (CP).
Senator George w. Norris will be
a happy observer when the new
Nebraska onc-house legislature
convenes here January 3.
Norris will have good reasons
TO be happy over what he consid;
ers his greatest contribution to the
causes of honesty and efficiency
in government. Since his cam
paign for q one-house legislature
came to a successful conclusion IN
the 1884 Nebraska election, 20
states have taken his idea under
consideration. In that many states
during the past two years, accord
ing to u survey made by a UNI,
versity of Nebraska political
scientist, efforts have been made,
either through introduction of res
olutions in legislatures or by the
initiative petitions, to replace the
two-house systems.
Norris on January 5 also Will
see the granting of his last re-
quest" from the voters OF Ne
braska who have sent him to the
lower house Of congress for five
terms and to the senate for five
terms.
NORRIS APPEAL WON
Norris told the voters four years
ago that he was a weary man and
would like to retire, but that he
would be everlastingly grateful II
they would adopt q non-partlsan'
unicameral legislature. over
stron opposition, his initiated
measure won.
Had he not been drafted to run
for reelection this year, he would
have devoted a great part OF the
rest of his life to promoting the
unicameral idea, he has told
friends. Recently he was invited
into six states, including Ohio,
Arkansas and Kentucky, for that
purpose. :.
In his own estimation, and in
the opinion of DR.. John P. Sen.
ning,. chairman Of the political
science department of the Gni-
versity Of Nebraska, successful adj
vocacy Of the one-house legisia,,
turc outranks any of Norris
achievements in the field of gov
crnment. rs.
During his early career, Norris
led the fight against the dictatorial
powers Of the speaker of the house
Of representatives, at that time
Joe Cannon. He fought many
years. and finally won the lame
duck" amendment to the consti-
PLACE PLACE IN HISTORY; SEEN :, .
/, SEEMING believes, however, that
the unicameral movement will
rank larger in the eyes of ,histori
ians. 30. ..,. .-.
"Here we have an abrupt change
in the form of state government !
SEEMING pointed out: st will be
more far-reaching in its effect
than the lame duck amendment or
the demise of Cannonism." a.
The legislature, which convenes
here the first Tuesday i'm January,
will consist Of 43 members, elected
on a non-pohtical basis, in one
compact assembly. The old -legis-
.lature consisted Of a house of 100
members and senate of 3d.
For the~past few weeks leaders
of the legislature have been CROP
ing for a set of rules that will be
readily applicable to the, new sys-
tenn. Out Of this discussion has
arisen the conviction that the num-
Der of standing committees Will be
reduced drastically. Some stu,
dents Of the plan have advocated
abolition Of the committee of the
whole which they contend is just
as useless as the second house in
a legislature. ., .
NORRIS AVOIDS POLITICS
Norris has refused to be drawn
into these discussions. He has
promised, however, that he will
pass up the opening Of congress
to sec his child take its first steps.
Thirty-two Of the 43 members
elected have had legislative. ex-
pcrience and, despite Democra-
tice landslide in Nebraska, only %
members are Democrats. This fits
in with Norris belief that partisan
politics has no place in state .legis-
latures. -. ..... ,
SEEMING believes that the uni,
cameral movement will gain rapid
Roadway in the next few years,
basinr this belief, on a survey. Two
states, New York and New Jersey,
have commissions authorized by
the legislatures to study the plan,
MOVE FOUGHT STUBBORNLY
In % other states, resolutions
for constitutional amendments
adopting the unicameral plan we're
introduced in at least one house
of the legislature. These rcsolu.
tions met with little success but
SEEMING pointed out this was not
surprising. Members Of the Ne
braska bicameral legislature op'
posed the change but they had to
accept it when the voters adopted
an initiated proposal.
States in which unicameral
amendments were introduced in
legislative sessions last year were
Alabama, California, Colorado
Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, kansas
Maine. Minnesota, Missouri, Mon
tana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ore.
gon, North Dakota, Ohio, Okla.
homa. Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah
Washington, Wyoming and Wis
consin