277

VETO OF BILL TO REMOVE GOVERNOR'S POWER

TO APPOINT LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD

IN BALTIMORE COUNTY*

June 8, 1967

Honorable Marvin Mandel
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland
Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Section 17 of Article II of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 82 and am returning it to
you.

This bill would remove the power of appointment of members of
the Board of License Commissioners of Baltimore County from the
Governor and vest it in the County Executive of Baltimore County.

When a Board of License Commissioners was initially established
in Baltimore County, the Board of County Commissioners was given
the power to appoint members. Upon the adoption of Charter Govern-
ment by the County in 1956, the power of appointment was transferred
to the Governor of the State, where it has since remained. To again
shift the power of appointment at this time would bring into question
the very balance and stability of institutions that Charter Government
is designed to establish, and would interject partisan politics into a
vital and significant governmental agency.

For these reasons, and because of the undesirable and unsettling
effect of such action on other counties in the State, I am compelled to
veto the bill.

*See comments, June 22, 1967, after General Assembly overrode veto.

APPEAL TO VOTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION

OF DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

(Taped for Radio Broadcasts and issued to Newspapers)

June 9, 1967

Governor Agnew appealed to Maryland voters today to take ad-
vantage of their unique opportunity and produce a heavy turnout in
next Tuesday's election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention.