should have a voice, and so I placed the matter before the people's
elected representatives in the General Assembly more than two years
ago-
Regarding the present clamor for a referendum, let me make this
point: I fully recognize that the referendum is an integral part of the
legislative process, and I, of course, would do nothing to obstruct it.
To say that I would invoke a part of that process, by having the bill
introduced in the General Assembly, and at the same time try to
block another part of the process, by delaying the signing or by vetoing
the bill, is so manifestly absurd and devoid of moral and ethical prin-
ciples as to deserve no further comment from me.

As a matter of fact, this matter has been the subject of more studies,
more analyses, more evaluation and more expert opinion than any
other subject during my term as Governor.

In addition to what I have said concerning a parallel span, this bill
also authorizes additional crossings of the Bay. I have never opposed
a northern crossing and I recognize that a substantial segment of our
citizens feels that such a crossing should be constructed without delay.
In view of this I have requested the State Roads Commission to study
the financial and engineering feasibility of proceeding immediately
with a northern crossing. Out of all of this, one thing is clear; whether
during my Administration or one that will follow, a bridge will be
built across the Bay from Sandy Point to Kent Island. If this necessary
project is delayed and the economy of the State suffers as a result, let
no one say that the fault lies with this Administration. Let the fault
lie where it belongs—with those who for selfish and political reasons
are attempting to block this much-needed public improvement at this
time.

I was disappointed that the Senate and the House of Delegates could
reach no accord on redistricting the State for our eight members of the
House of Representatives, and I would be the last person to defend
this inaction. But if we are reasonable we will acknowledge that this
business of apportioning legislatures and laying out Congressional
districts to comply with the "one man, one vote" mandate of the
courts has been a tough problem everywhere, and that the legislatures
of many other states have been no more successful than was ours.

Aside from these two problems, which admittedly should have been
solved, there was much accomplished at the 1966 session. The crea-
tion of an Intermediate Court of Appeals, to relieve the present con-
gestion of unsettled court cases, is certainly the most far-reaching

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