conclusions will almost certainly require action within the purview of
the Legislature. I submit that in the interest of both Legislature and
governmental reorganization, the businesslike way to prepare for the
updating of Maryland's administrative offices is the enactment of
legislation. It should provide that those recommendations approved
by the Governor but requiring the force of law shall be submitted
by him to the Legislature and, unless disapproved by resolution con-
curred in by a majority of the members of either house within 60
legislative days after being submitted, shall then take effect on a
date set by the Governor.

Through such legislation I propose that my successor, and suc-
ceeding Governors, be given authority to develop and lay before the
Legislature reorganization plans covering the following:

a. Transfer of any unit within the executive branch, or its func-
tions, to the jurisdiction and control of another within that branch,
of government.

b. Consolidation or integration of functions within any such unit,
c. Consolidation or integration of the functions of various units,
d. Abolition of part or all of the functions of various units.

e. Abolition of any unit whose functions have been found to be
obsolete.

f. Authorization for an officer within the executive branch to
delegate any of his functions to other public officers, provided they
are also subject to the direction and supervision of the Governor.

That is substantially the procedure approved by the Hoover Com-
mission in its report on reorganization of the federal government
over a decade and a half ago. It has worked well there, and it has
since been successfully adopted by several of the state. It would give
to the chief executive of this State the reorganization powers now
entrusted to the President and Governors of certain other states. The
proposed approach assures that final authority remains securely with
the Legislature. Yet it avoids unnecessarily overcrowding the legisla-
tive calendar with reorganization proposals not really the subject
of controversy. It leaves the initiative for any action with those who
may oppose a particular organizational change. The requested legis-
lation would also assure that the efficient organization of the ad-
ministrative offices is not just a one-shot, one-time effort. It places
squarely on future Governors not only the responsibility but actual
authority to keep the executive branch abreast of changing needs,
always subject, of course, to legislative veto. By this arrangement

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