sibility of the University, moreover, to provide properly trained teachers
and broad-gauged thinkers and doers in the other occupations and pro-
fessions. This is a tremendous task, but a task we must bear with as much
courage as we can muster and as much determination as we can com-
mand. It is a source of great gratification to me that this desire on the
part of the people of Maryland to support a good program of higher
education has manifested itself in action and not mere words.

During the two and a half years which I have had the honor to serve
the people as their Governor, I have seen the operational budget of the
University of Maryland expand by more than $6. 5 million. The first
budget I presented to the General Assembly, some two weeks after I was
inaugurated, called for an appropriation of $28, 692, 591, which was a
9. 1 per cent increase over the appropriation for the preceding year. For
the year following—the budget under which we are currently operating—
the total appropriation was $31, 707, 504, which represented a 10. 5 per
cent increase over the year before. And my third budget, recently
approved by the General Assembly, authorizes an expenditure of
$32, 932, 506, which is a 3. 9 per cent increase.

This conviction we have that money invested in our institutions of
higher learning will yield returns in human progress and social better-
ment is evident, likewise, in funds we have authorized for capital
improvements at the University of Maryland—funds with which this
building was erected. In the budget for the 1960 fiscal year—my first—
$3, 089, 100 was authorized for buildings and other capital-improvement
projects at the University of Maryland. This, it may be remarked, was
21. 9 per cent of the entire capital outlay of the State for that year. For
the year in which we are now operating, $3, 089, 100 in capital funds,
or 25. 2 per cent of the total for the State, were approved. And for
the fiscal year which begins next July 1, we have authorized for capital
expenditure here $4, 341, 300, or 23. 9 per cent of the State total.

Perhaps I should apologize for the statistics. Someone has said that
speakers use statistics like drunken men use lampposts—for support
rather than illumination. I assure you that I have used them here to
shed light on a healthful condition that prevails in our State—an
unshakeable belief on the part of the people in the positive value of
higher education.

For the State of Maryland and its people, I greet you on the occasion
of this dedication.

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