NEWS CONFERENCE 339

are plenty of qualified Negroes who can meet the existing standards.
There is no need to weaken the standards and to create an artificial
compliance with the laws that are on the books. We must continue,
however, our efforts to provide the greatest possible education for
those who want to take these jobs. This should be the thrust of our
whole governmental effort, to provide education so that more people
will be able to qualify for the positions that are open.

Q. Governor, your new Correction Commissioner, Mr. Cannon, has
been saying some very controversial things. Are you forcibly behind
this?

A. I haven't heard him say anything that appeared controversial to
me, yd.

Q. Well, this week for instance he was talking about the rehabilita-
tive work programs in prisons and money to produce them. He was
saying that if the program is not rehabilitative, he would rather not
see the State invest money in it.

A. I don't think that's controversial. I agree with him 100 percent.
Mr. Cannon has been placed in that position to upgrade Maryland's
Correctional System, which certainly needed upgrading. He's got my
full support. He's got total, I won't say autonomy, but he's got total
responsibility to move and innovate in any way he wants to. I'm not
going to put any reins on him. I went out and found the best man
we could for Maryland to do this job and it would be ridiculous now
to try to tell him how to run it. If I were going to tell him how to
run it, I shouldn't have gone out and gotten him and I should try to
do it myself.

Q. Governor, did the administration make any effort, before it re-
appointed Allan Housley to the Building, Savings and Loan Depart-
ment, to determine whether the other four persons who were men-
tioned by the governing body of that department as potential candi-
dates, was any effort made to determine whether any of them wanted
the job?

A. No, but this was done because of my cognizance of that accusation
with regard to the other people on the list. I talked with Mr. Housley
in quite some detail, and I also talked with people who were con-
nected with businesses that are affected by that regulatory agency and
people who work in other agencies with Mr. Housley, and I satisfied
myself that he's doing an excellent job. I have received more letters
of commendation in regard to Mr. Housley since I have been in office
than any other official in the government.