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THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Byrnes.
DELEGATE BYRNES: We have sug-
gested, Delegate Murray, that it is neces-
sary to have in one of the two houses in
the General Assembly a body, a member-
ship, which has a political base, which is
metropolitan or regional in color or tone
or respect.
We think one of the great problems we
face now is that all members of the Gen-
eral Assembly are elected from the tradi-
tional political subdivisions we know. We
think that the House should remain so dis-
tricted, but we also think that we must
recognize the growing regional problems of
the State, and that problem-solving will
not begin until the authorities vested by
this constitution with the responsibility to
solve them, themselves have a base which
is centered in a metropolitan or regional
political subdivision, rather than the tradi-
tional subdivision we have known.
The point of the amendment is to require
the redistricting apportionment authority
recommended by the Legislative Branch
Committee to require them where they can
constitutionally and where they can in
terms of population, to cut across county
lines and to create senate districts which
would include house districts in two coun-
ties, Baltimore City being a county.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Murray.
DELEGATE E. C. MURRAY: Since I
must pose this as a question, do you not
realize, since you are speaking of Anne
Arundel County, that the people of Anne
Arundel County, that the interests of Anne
Arundel County are just about as diverse
as could possibly be, even though you
brought in a part of Baltimore City?
This has always been true.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Byrnes.
DELEGATE BYRNES: I would say in
answer to that, I do not question that for
a moment. I know perfectly well that the
interests of Anne Arundel County are di-
verse from those of Baltimore City.
I also know that the third district of
Baltimore City's interests are different
from those of the fifth district, and I say
that in the House that those diverse inter-
ests should be protected, but in the Senate
we should also recognize that although
there is a diversity of interest, there is
also a commonality of interest.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Byrnes,
you have left only one minute.
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Delegate Murray, do you have another
question?
DELEGATE E. C. MURRAY: I have
this question only, sir. Do you not realize
that we would rather retain our own
destiny?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Byrnes.
DELEGATE BYRNES: I do realize
that, but I think that I can recognize also
that this Committee of the Whole approved
almost unanimously the power to be vested
in the General Assembly to go beyond the
political subdivisions that we know in solv-
ing these problems.
So I think that although we do treasure
our history and our political subdivisions,
since we have known them so long, we also
have to recognize that there are common
problems that cross these lines.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any fur-
ther questions of the sponsor of the amend-
ment?
Delegate Lord?
DELEGATE LORD: I have a very short
question.
THE CHAIRMAN: It will have to be.
I think he has left only 30 seconds for both
question and answer.
DELEGATE LORD: Delegate Byrnes,
shouldn't you also be amending some lan-
guage in there about following natural
boundaries as nearly as possible?
THE CHAIRMAN: I think you have
about time to say yes or no, and not much
else.
DELEGATE BYRNES: Yes.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Gallagher.
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Just briefly,
Mr. Chairman, while I applaud Delegate
Byrnes' ultimate objective to get a regional
frame of mind where regional interests re-
quire it, I do not think this is the way to
do it, and I would respectfully oppose it.
THE CHAIRMAN: Is there any other
discussion?
(There was no response.)
Are you ready for the question?
(Call for the question.)
The question arises on the adoption of
the Amendment No. 1 to Committee Rec-
ommendation LB-2. The Clerk will please
ring the quorum bell.
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