586 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

ticular emphasis on inclusion of programs and facilities for the care
and treatment of alcoholics. Increases in alcoholic beverage taxes are
being considered as a means of financing part of the program.

Water Pollution Control — A comprehensive program calling for
extensive construction of main sewer lines, sewage treatment plants
and related facilities, to be financed through a substantial long-term
State bond issue. An important feature will be pre-financing of pro-
grams that will be eligible for Federal aid at later dates but permit
construction of the projects now, with Federal funds helping pay off
the bond issue. Provisions will be included for control of pollution
from marinas and watercraft and to provide tax incentives for curb-
ing industrial pollution.

Highways — Legislation to implement the recommendations of the
joint legislative-executive (Redding) committee, including replace-
ment of the State's present insolvent six-year program with an open-
end five-year program that would be updated each year from a long
range needs study; revision of the distribution of motor vehicle and
gasoline tax revenues; a one-third increase in motor vehicle registra-
tion fees to provide essential additional financing; creation of a re-
volving fund to allow early acquisition of rights-of-way at a sub-
stantial financial savings.

Transit — Creation of an authority to plan, construct, finance and
operate a rapid transit system for the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Housing — Creation of a State authority to provide financial and
technical assistance for low and middle income housing projects, in-
cluding low-cost mortgage insurance. A principal objective will be
to encourage private investment in this critical area.

Housing Code — Enactment of a Statewide housing code which
would set minimum health and safety standards throughout the State.
Local governments would enforce the code, which would become
effective in 1969.

Higher Education Loans — Expansion of the present program to
cover more students, including those in vocational and technical train-
ing schools, and to make loans more readily available. The program
would effect a savings of millions of dollars over the next five years
by phasing out the majority of present State scholarship grants while

increasing the opportunity for greater numbers of Maryland students

to obtain a college education.