NEWS CONFERENCE 253

Q. Governor, the State Department of Public Welfare has in Balti-
more three experimental halfway houses for disturbed girls who do
not adjust in other places. The Federal money by which they have
been operating is about to run out. Can the State do anything to save
those houses?

A. We're investigating that problem right now to see whether any-
thing can be done to fund these worthy enterprises. I have no word
on it, but we'll try to have something for you by the next time we have
a conference.

Q. Governor, do these differences between you and Mr. Goldstein
signal an end to the longstanding bipartisan harmony?

A. No, not in the slightest. As a matter of fact, when I've said these
things that I've had to say in the interest of accuracy about the Comp-
troller's position in this case, I'm smiling as sweetly at him right now
as he smiled at me when he put that property tax zinger into me a few
months ago.

Q. Governor, what about the State Racing Commission chairman-
ship?

A. The question is open to a dual legal interpretation and we
haven't come to any conclusion about it yet, either on a factual basis
or on a legal basis. In short, the law is somewhat confused as to
whether, after the initial appointments under the '59 act, the governor
has the power to designate the chairman of the Racing Commission
or whether a chairman previously designated must retain his chair-
manship until his term runs out. We're looking into this. There may
not be any need to test it, and yet there may. If it has to be tested,
we'll probably request some declaratory procedure so that there won't
be any problem of acts that the Racing Commission may take before
it's finally adjudicated. But I would expect I'll have something on
that within two days.

Q. Governor, a story in the papers yesterday afternoon stated that
you were going to do the hiring as far as the State Insurance Com-
missioner's office is concerned, rather than the commissioner himself.
Would you care to comment on that?

A. No, that's not true. Mr. Steers is a very independent person who
has complete faith in his own judgments. I have faith in his judgments
too, or I wouldn't have appointed him to such a sensitive post. Now,
it's going to be entirely up to him whom he hires within the frame-
work, within the latitude that he's allowed, and how he runs his