plans that eventually there will be a community college within com-
muting distance of 94 per cent of Maryland's public high school
graduates. In dedicating a new Fine Arts Center on the campus of
the University of Maryland last May, Dr. Wilson H. Elkins, the
President of the University, had this to say: "... there is impressive
evidence to show that Governor Tawes has used sound fiscal policy
to provide the educational need of the State and that his administration
will be heralded for the advancement of all education, and particularly
the progress of the University of Maryland. "

Let's look now at State roads. Never before in history has such an
enormous program in road building been undertaken. With the
awarding of 27 contracts in August, the total money that Maryland
has invested in highways since January, 1959, reached $708, 287, 556.
This almost triples the amount spent for roads during the previous
eight years. With projects such as the f 120 million Appalachian Free-
way and the $250 million interstate system within Baltimore City on
the drawing board, Mr. John B. Funk, the Chairman-Director of the
State Roads Commission, promises that our roads program, over our
eight years in office, will exceed $1 billion. Since I took office in
January, 1959, the motor vehicle registration in Maryland has increased
by 50. 7 per cent. During the same period, the total book value of
highways that Maryland is keeping pace with the demands of motorists
and others for better and safer highways.

And what of health? And mental hygiene? As in education and
road building, the State's mushrooming population, reaching 3, 590, 180
in 1965, looks to a responsible administration to provide for a wide
range of programs and new legislation to meet the increasing health
needs of communities. Within the time allotted here, it would not
be possible to offer a comprehensive review of all the public health
activities, but I should like to list a few highlights. In 1959, the State
took a big step in its aid to health care by adopting a new policy under
which reimbursement to hospitals for patient care was related directly
to the individual hospital's actual cost. Previously, all hospitals,
regardless of the scope of services and variation in costs, were paid the
same amount per patient day. The new formula reimbursed the
hospitals for 80 per cent of the actual costs. In the budget for this year,
Maryland took measures to utilize available matching funds under the
federal Medicare Program to provide maximum health benefits for
Maryland citizens. As a result, hardpressed hospitals now will receive
100 per cent of cost for both inpatient and outpatient care. To be
noted also is the $50 million hospital construction land approved by