purpose. I am not at all sure that this is true, but certainly it can be said
that our condition could be improved greatly by stepped-up enforcement
of existing traffic laws. It goes without saying that a law serves no useful
purpose if it is improperly administered or laxly enforced.

It was this thought that I had in mind a few months ago when I
asked judges and magistrates responsible for the administration of our
traffic laws, law enforcement officers and other officials interested in
traffic safety to meet with me in Annapolis to discuss this problem of
enforcement. I made it clear to the magistrates assembled there that I
was in no way attempting to interfere with their exercise of independent
judgment in cases which came before them. No right-thinking person
would seriously advocate the imposition of artificial restraints upon the
independent judgment of the courts or to instruct them to be strict or
lenient in the application of the laws to accused offenders. I pointed out,
nevertheless, that the people will respect and obey these laws only if they
are convinced that they are enforced with fairness and impartiality—if
enforcement is decent, impartial and on the level. And I also pointed out
that it is a fact—and a fact that we must face—that traffic courts
throughout the country have been widely criticized for the manner in
which some of them administer justice.

I am gratified to note the improvements which already have been made
in the administration of our traffic laws. I cite in particular the effort
that has been made by the Traffic Court here in Baltimore to clear up a
backlog of unserved traffic warrants and bring to justice those who,
through a carelessness of administration, had been able to evade their
responsibility under the laws. I have great confidence in the men I have
appointed to these positions—in their ability and determination to en-
force the laws justly and impartially....

Before my tenure as Governor of Maryland expires, I should like the
satisfaction of knowing that Maryland has been made a safer and more
healthful place in which to live. That is a main objective of my Admin-
istration, and to accomplish it I will need the cooperation of all the
people, and especially of people like you who have made safety and
health a chief concern of your careers....

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