Hygiene. The State has been handsomely rewarded by the initiation
of improved techniques and programs, along with the vigorous de-
velopment of a large variety of drugs used for mental illnesses. The
result is that for the fifth consecutive year the patient population
in our mental hospitals has continued to decline. For example, the
average population of all State mental hospitals declined from 10, 830
for the 1960 fiscal year to 10, 746 for the first five month of 1961. With
the planned opening of the day hospitals for the mentally ill and day
care centers for the mentally retarded, it is expected that the admission
rate of the institutions will continue to decline.

These circumstances present an inducement to reduce appropria-
tions for mental health, but we have, wisely I think, resisted such
temptation. We have, instead, increased the general fund appropria-
tion for the Department by $1, 137, 746, with the feeling that the
favorable conditions cited presents us with the opportunity to render
the kind of service that may be expected of us in the care and treat-
ment of the unfortunate victims of mental illness.

In public welfare, the budget recommended, calculated on the
current federal matching basis, shows a net increase of $2, 368, 792.
This extra allotment envisions a net case-load increase of 520, along
with the extra case workers that will be needed, additional money
for improved food standards and an increased allotment for the
boarding care of children.

The safety of our citizens, particularly on our highways, is of
great moment, and this budget reflects our determination to bring
about a greater measure of protection to Marylanders. Money has
been allotted to finance the operations of the point-system by the
Department of Motor Vehicles. The budget of the Department itself
shows a net decrease of $163, 635, which results from the phase-out
of the operators' re-registration program. The new operators license
renewal program, requiring operators to renew licenses every two
years, will be financed by a $2 fee.

We can derive no great satisfaction from the slight decrease in
highway fatalities last year. We must continue to do our utmost to
curtail the heavy death toll. In my opinion, one of the really effective
deterrents to highway accidents is an efficient police force. I, there-
fore, am recommending an additional 40 State Troopers to augment
the present force of 591 in our Maryland State Police, twenty for a
full year and twenty for the last half of the fiscal year.

In civil defense, the federal government is committed to match
the personnel and administrative expenses of the total civil defense

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