Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-02-04
1T SHOULD WORK

Nebraska's one-houSe legisla-
ture which is in its first year of
operation, should prove refresh
ing innovation in state legisla-
lures. With the decreased size
which will work toward greater
efficiency and speed. it should be
an advancement over the slow I'M
wieldy two-house legislatures of
other states. Each progress on
Till through committees on the
floor of the House and the final
signature by the governor is
definate and final procedure.
There will be no conference COM
mittees between two houses and
thus less time will be lost and
less chance for skullduggery.
Following is good comment on
the Nebraska venture which APP
peared in the editorial column of
the Minneapolis Tribune under
the caption. "Nebraska's Tes ing
Laboratory.
The possibility that Nebraska's
lined" one-hOuse all-male
legislature" will prove more efficient
poraries is one that is rather widely
recognized. Henry w. Toll, executive
director of the American Legislators
association. is included among these
who believe that the circumstances
are favorable for the success of this
yro mr.
that the record of one session will
not offer a sufficient basis for judg-
ment, and he is rendering no verdict
until the zest of the new enterprise
and TIE floodlight of publicity have
died away" But in the personnel Of
the nations only unicameral legisla-
ture, and in the rules of procedure
which are outlined in the law which
created it, he finds much that is sig
nificant.
The Nebraska legislature, for ex-
ample. has definite advantage on
the side of experience. Thirty two
of its 43 members, or approximately
IS. have served previously as state
senators or representatives. But fig
ures compiled by the American Leeis-
lators association of $500 LEGISLATORS
of 1885 show that more than half the
senators and representatives ha' e
never sat in legislature before, and
that Fl per cent served in only one
previous session. OF Nebraska's leg
islators, nearly 40 per cent have had
at least two sessions experience.
Again Mr.. Toll notes that Al per cent
of Nebraska's legislators are college
graduates as compared with an aver
age of "a per cent in other states.
As for the rules of procedure, Mr.
Toll believes that they are fasl toned
to promote legislative efficiency. The
Nebraska legislature is so small and
compact that it is unnecessary to have
the characteristic large number of
committees. Each step in the con-
sideration of bill is now final, and
no shifting of responsibility to a sec
Ond house is involved. Since bills
must be introduced five legislative
days before a vote is taken, the pos
sibility of hasty or ill-cOnsidered ac-
ton is minimized, and the fact that
the time limit on sessions has been
removed eliminates any excuse for
quick and careless disposal of bills
in a deadline jam.
1t is Mr.. Tolls opinion that the
Nebraska legislature will undoubtedly
prove more effective than the two
house legislature in the enactment of
good measures" The real test of it's
worth will come when there are bad
measures to be blocked. Mr.. Toll
is not so sure on this score, but he
believes that the unicameral expert
ment is eminently worth watching,
and that much good may come of it.
1t is, by all odds, one of the most
provocative departures in government
that the country has witnessed in
many years.