Our referendum procedures, requiring only 10, 000 signatures on
a petition to place a State-wide question on the ballot, are obsolete
and open to abuse. We must not, of course, disturb the time-tested,
well-established right of the people to pass judgment upon laws
enacted by their legislative representatives. But I submit that we
would more nearly fulfill the intent of the framers of this constitu-
tional provision if the number of signatures required bore a more
reasonable relationship to population. I, therefore, hope you will see
fit to approve such constitutional amendment at this session.

I have been pleased by the excellent progress that has been made
in the voluntary desegregation of hotel and restaurant facilities in
Maryland. I think that within a few years this issue could be settled
on a purely voluntary basis. But events of recent months have con-
vinced me that some legislation is needed in this area, and I hope
you will pass a public accommodations bill at this session.

Maryland's laws to protect the public against unscrupulous selling
and investment schemes contain certain gaps and inadequacies which
should be remedied. Complaints of consumers who have been created
and defrauded have multiplied in recent years. A bill to erase this
evil will be placed before you for your consideration at this session.
I request that you give it your support. Likewise, a tightening of
our "Blue Sky" laws is urgently needed to protect the public from
fraud in the investment field.

Before you at this session will be a bill, drafted by a commission
appointed by me, to correct this condition. I request that you pass
this measure.

My recital of these particular matters should not be construed
to mean that this is the extent of the legislative program my admin-
istration will support at this session. Other matters will be brought
to your attention from time to time during the session.

Now we come to the most important task at hand—the development
of a fiscal program to finance the agencies, institutions and services
the people require of their State Government. As is customary, docu-
ments containing the details of my program are being placed in your
hands today. These include the budget book, with personnel supple-
ment, and my complete printed message to you. Some departmental
allocations were given to you earlier in this message. For those not
mentioned, I refer you to the printed documents. I shall offer you
here no more than a summation of the budget I am proposing.

The budget which I offer you for fiscal 1963 calls for a total fund

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