level of care of patients, to improve our hospital facilities and to
stimulate research in the hospitals.

Throughout the first year of my term, I have laid heavy stress upon
our obligation—mine as the chief executive and yours as the law-
makers of the State—to employ our time and our talents to a re-
duction of the terrible toll in deaths and injuries from highway
accidents. No one has discovered a panacea for this evil, but in my
opinion a rigorous enforcement of the laws, improved engineering
of our highways and a continuous campaign of safety education are
the best remedies that have been offered thus far. Preparations are
being made for die institution next January 1 of the point system
which you approved at the session last year. Chemical tests for
drunken driving already are in effect, with highly satisfactory results.
The program for better highways will be accelerated by the legislation
I mentioned previously. The Executive Department will continue to
lend its support and encouragement to stringent law enforcement and
die education of drivers.

On the topic of public health, more will be said in my comments
on the budget. I should like to point out here, however, that in view
of the continuing concern for full mileage from the taxpayers' dollar,
die State Department of Health, under my direction, has instituted
a new system of controls over its most costly operation—the hospital
in-patient program. Instead of twenty-six days of hospitalization prior
to administrative review, approval must be obtained now for any
hospitalization in excess of three days. It is hoped that these controls
will result in shorter periods of hospital stay, while still providing
the needed care for patients. As a further step toward a more econo-
mical operation, the State Health Department is cooperating with
Blue Cross, the Hospital Council and the State Insurance Commis-
sioner in establishing a single authority for auditing hospital-cost
statements for all groups.

All of you are aware of the studies of various State problems which
have been conducted by different groups—committees of the Legisla-
tive Council and commissions appointed by me, either on my own
initiative or through your authorization—since you adjourned here
last April. Most of the reports and recommendations of these groups
are available to you now. Others you will have before the expiration
of this session.

Your first concern at this short session is, of course, the budget
for the 1961 fiscal year. But some of the legislation that has been
recommended by these committees and commissions is of such im-

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