The maintenance of law and order and the fair administration
of justice were, in the view of Governor Tawes, essential to a
democratic society. His long-standing interest in such matters,
dating from his days as clerk of the court of Somerset County,
continued unabated during his second term. Increases in the
strength of the State Police were made annually. Merit and
recognized competence were the criteria utilized in the appoint-
ment of judges, a major responsibility of the State's chief
executive. The Governor's particular interest in the so-called
"inferior courts" was reflected in his leadership in creating the
Conference of Trial Magistrates as a permanent organization
in 1962. Concern over the operation of the Baltimore City
Police Department led to the appointment of a special com-
mittee to study the problem and resulted in subsequent changes
in the administration of that law enforcement agency.

REMARKS ON COMMISSIONING U. S. COAST GUARD

STATION

ANNAPOLIS

July 18, 1963

Admiral Wuensch, Captain Wilcox, officers and men of the United
States Coast Guard, ladies and gentlemen:

Let me begin by expressing my gratitude and appreciation to the
United States Coast Guard for inviting me to come here this afternoon to
take part in these ceremonies in which we are commissioning this new
Coast Guard station in Annapolis.

From the very beginning of its existence—from the time Captain John
Smith sailed his vessels up and down the Chesapeake Bay surveying the
green, lush shores on either side of him—Maryland has been closely identi-
fied and intimately associated with maritime activities and the men of the
sea. All around us is evidence of this identification and this association
the United States Naval Academy in our background and in the dis-
tance the great Bay which for centuries has borne the commerce of this
country with all the continents of the globe. Indeed, if I were asked to
name one single distinguishing characteristic of Maryland, I would have

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