better highways for the money we are spending. The State Roads
Commission construction program is vital to every county and political
subdivision of our State. Proper planning requires that the highway
needs of the political subdivisions, as well as the over-all highway
needs of the State, be considered. Not only is this desirable in con-
nection with the expenditure of Commission funds, but also with
respect to the allocations and expenditure of monies received from
the Federal Bureau of Public Roads of the United States Government.
I propose, therefore, that there be established within the Commission
an over-all planning department to coordinate the highway require-
ments of the political subdivisions with those of the Commission. That
Department should also consider and make recommendations to the
Director and the Commission on the distribution and use of Federal
funds allocated to the counties and municipalities of the State.

The office of die Comptroller of the State Roads Commission is
one of tremendous importance. The Comptroller should and must
work very closely with the Director of Highways and the entire
Commission is advising them of the full and complete monetary
picture, so that the Commission and the Director may at all times
know the accurate and true financial situation. However, the Com-
ptroller, although working in complete cooperation with the Director
and the Commission, should not in the ultimate instance be answer-
able to the Commission. The Comptroller should be in a position
to apply the "brakes" on Commission spending if he determines that
the Commission is planning to spend beyond its income or is about
to expend funds for purposes not allowed by law. To accomplish this,
the Comptroller should be responsible to the Chief Executive of the
State and should be in a position to consult and confer with the
Governor if the Director or the Commission refuses to heed his advice.

Another important department in the State Roads Commission
is the Legal Department. By law the Attorney General of the State
of Maryland is the legal adviser to the State Roads Commission. The
Special Assistant Attorney General and his staff, while working in
close cooperation with the Commission and its Director, should be
answerable only to the Attorney General, and should be in charge
of all legal services affecting the operation of the Commission.

I believe that at all times the press, radio and television and the
public in general should be fully informed of the Commission's
activities, its plans, its programming and the reason therefor. With-
out public support, any highway construction program would be
difficult to accomplish. Only through adequate and proper dissemina-

18