NEWS CONFERENCE 85

A. Yes, I am. Thus far I think Mr. Burch has done an excellent job
of pressing forward with the investigation and I'm hopeful that he
will be able to conclude it within another 60 days.

Q. Governor, it looks like there is a better chance this year than
ever before to outlaw the death penalty and you said that you would
like to have a study of the entire situation. In the light of what hap-
pened yesterday with the amendment attached to it, if the bill goes
through would you sign it?

A. I want to tell you what I'm worried about in regard to the bill and
the amendment that has been referred to as the Clark amendment.
Presently under our procedures a person can be convicted of first
degree murder and upon a recommendation of leniency from the jury,
or I believe upon the judge's own initiative, can be given a life sen-
tence instead of a death penalty. If the Clark amendment goes
through, an amendment which I expressed interest in, and meets my
position of concern over the ability of the person who would have
drawn the death penalty being paroled after 15 years, if that amend-
ment goes through without further amendments to make it possible
for the person who would not have drawn the death penalty in the
first instance having a chance to be paroled as he presently has, then
I think maybe it may be a little too restrictive. And I think we have
got to consider this problem. In short what I'm saying is, a person
who would be convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, as I
understand the Clark amendment, would now have no possibility of
parole after 15 years. I would like to see the removal of the chance
of parole extend only to those who would draw the death penalty,
and I'm not sure just how this should come about. We have the
matter under consideration and may wish to sponsor further amend-
ments.

Q. Governor, what are your views on the abortion bill?

A. Well, the amended bill seems to meet the objections of the
medical people involved. I'm for the bill's purpose. I think that cer-
tainly there should be some legitimate procedure with the proper
safeguard for abuses, and apparently the amendments meet these safe-
guards, to allow abortions to be performed where the health of the
child or the parent is involved.

Q. Governor, Dr. Alien has a resolution to study a plan to subsidize
a medical program whereby interns and resident physicians may be
induced to stay in Maryland. What do you think of it?