NEWS CONFERENCE 27

going to have the ability to do this in the proper manner with their
own staff or they are going to be persuaded by pressure groups utiliz-
ing assistance in the private sector. I'd much rather see them have
their own professional staff.

Q. Do you think this will really eliminate a lot of lobbying if they

have access to it?

A. I think it could eliminate a lot of the wrong kind of lobbying,

yes.

Q. Do you plan to make John Lauber a permanent member of your
staff or will he return to Montgomery life?

A. I will have an announcement about Mr. Lauber probably within
the next two weeks. I hope to keep him. He is one of the most talented
individuals in financial areas I have ever encountered. Well, since
you have pushed me to this amount of disclosure, I may as well tell
you that the post that Mr. Lauber is being considered for is the head
of the Task Force on Modern Management.

Q. Will that turn itself into a career type job or a leave of absence
type thing?

A. Well, that we don't know at this point.

Q. I understood that he was making so much money in Montgomery
County you were having a little trouble persuading him to hold for.
$18, 000 a year? Mr. Slicher and other people were talking about that
yesterday and they said he was in such a heady atmosphere over there
that the state government salary seemed rather small.

A. Well, I'm not certain of what the Task Force on Modern Manage-
ment top man would make at this point, but it's certainly not re-
stricted to my personal staff bracket. And I believe the Curlett Com-
mission was thinking in a higher bracket.

Q. Mr. Agnew, I understand you have been able to shave the initial
budget request to slightly below $1 billion in your budget message.
Can you give us the exact figure?

A. Not yet.

Q. Can you confirm the premise of this statement?

A. I neither confirm nor deny but demand strict proof thereof.

Q. Mr. Agnew, we heard your comments on the new Mechanic
Theatre. Would you care to give us a review of the show itself?