As has been pointed out, Maryland now has the highest minimum
salary schedule for teachers in the nation, with the exception of
Alaska. And in terms of purchasing power, when the inflationary
economy of Alaska is considered, our State ranks at the very top in
the minimum salaries it has established for its teachers. I am proud
of this fact, as I know all of you are, we have truly passed an impor-ant milestone in public education.

I should like to refer again to the remarks I made before 'this body
a year ago. I said at the time that in the interest of responsible govern-
ment and sound fiscal management, any new program involving an
outlay of additional funds should be accompanied by a plan to
finance it. This is a policy which I have adhered to strictly throughout
my term of office. It is the simple, homely proposition that one does
not, in the exercize of good judgment, order goods or services unless
he knows how he is going to pay for them. The Hughes Committee,
acknowledging this responsibility estimated the cost of its proposal
at a little more than $16 million and suggested an upward tax
revision to finance it.

When it came time for me, as Chief Executive, to plan a legislative
program for the 1964 session of the General Assembly, 1 accepted the
Hughes Committee plan of additional State aid for public education
with enthusiasm. Once that decision was made, I sat down with my
financial advisers, including experts in the educational field, to study
the question of financing the program. As you know, we have estab-
lished by law in Maryland a Board of Revenue Estimates whose
responsibility it is to provide me with a statement of estimated
revenues for the preparation of a budget.

As you know also, the Governor is required by the Constitution to
submit a balanced budget to the General Assembly. The estimate
of revenues submitted to me by the Board of Revenue Estimates
indicated that if the proposal for additional State aid to education
were adopted new revenue resources would be required. Accordingly,
acting under my constitutional obligation to submit a balanced
budget, and on the advice of legislative leaders, I proposed a one per
cent increase in the income tax.

May I digress here for a moment to express my thanks to the officers
and members of this Association for the unwavering support they
gave me in this cause. Never, during or after the legislative session,
did you hesitate to state plainly and boldly that the program would
cost money. On the contrary, by deed and by word you asked the

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