472 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

Q. Didn't you issue an executive memorandum wanting the depart-
ments not to ask for more?

A. Yes, I told them they would have to use a very sharp pencil and
apparently they have because they reduced their requests 20 percent
over what they had sent in last year. In other words, instead of asking
for 50 percent more they asked for 50 percent more.

Q. When you appeared before the committee of the Constitutional
Convention you said something like this, "I don't believe education
should be removed from the so-called political arena. " Would you
repeat that, please?

A. Yes, there's a proposal before the Convention that would man-
date the education budget as recommended by the professional edu-
cators. In short, it would give the Governor and the Legislature no
right of review of the budget. I indicated that I was against this pro-
posal. And I indicated, also, that to remove the education budget
from the normal political process would certainly make for a lack of
interest on the part of people who are interested in education. I think
education is a subject that vitally affects every citizen. And what could
be more properly in the political arena than this most important
subject? I think it belongs as a matter for discussion and determina-
tion by public officials who stand before the electorate each four years
to be approved or disapproved.

Q. On education, have you gotten any reports on the City schools?

A. Mr. Cole of my staff is still investigating the complaints in the
several schools in the City system and has not reported to me yet.

Q. Governor, Congressman Long seems to be intensifying his attack
against the parallel Bay bridge.

A. Oh, is that so? I didn't know it was possible to intensify it.
Q. Do you think he is going to be successful in stopping the bridge?

A. No, I think that he is fighting a solitary battle in which he is
receiving no comfort from anyone who is in possession of the infor-
mation. The fact that the Public Works Committee of the Congress
voted 34 to 0 against him, and that every other Congressman in Mary-
land is aligned against him, and that the Legislative Council of the
State threw out the consideration of these contracts after hearing from
the State Roads Commission indicates that he's simply trying to use
it as a political vehicle to keep his popularity index high and to keep
himself alive as a potential Senatorial candidate.