460 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

General Assembly. However, I believe the State Budget Director would
be a more useful and effective Board member than the Comptroller,
for his department is instrumental in the implementation of most
Board decisions. As the Governor's appointee, the Budget Director
would admittedly tip the scales in the Governor's favor. Yet, this
executive branch majority is essential if the executive branch is to
implement the Governor's policies as they are approved by the Legis-
lature.

Since a copy of my remarks on each Section of Article IV has been
prepared for distribution to each of you, I would like to offer a few
thoughts — not on the content of the conclusions of the convention,
but upon the difficult decision-making process which immediately
confronts you.

We have recently read a great deal of critical comment upon the
final document prepared by the New York State Constitutional Con-
vention. Several editorials and columns have urged Maryland's dele-
gates to regard the shortcomings of New York as a lesson, an example,
a warning. Certainly, if we are wise, we can benefit from this vicarious
experience. We can see that where political rather than logical con-
siderations influenced decisions, the new constitution was adversely
affected. We can see that where expedience rather than experience
dictated compromise, the new constitution was tarnished.

The message and the challenge are clear. You must walk an in-
tellectual tightrope, desiring to preserve cherished values on the one
hand and to discard traditional forms that fail to serve on the other.
You must balance your desire to reform, innovate, and modernize the
executive branch with your recognition that powerful forces of the
status quo may oppose ratification.

Obviously, on many points, great and small, compromise will be
necessary. I urge you to be flexible and yet to compromise only for
those best and most compelling reasons of principle, lucidity and logic.
You are creating a constitution for the future as well as the present,
for unborn generations as well as present constituents. Your decisions
should reflect and represent both. While your conscious effort must
be influenced by present experiences, it should also be inspired by your
realization of the progress, growth and technological advances that
have created the need for a new constitution. This vision of the
Maryland-to-be is shared by the public that authorized this conven-
tion and elected its delegates.