594 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

Legislative Council bills I see that they have done the same thing.
They have attempted to stay out of areas that will of necessity be
affected by the Constitution. Yes, I think they should and I think they
are doing it.

Q. Governor, what is your reaction to the Constitutional Conven-
tion cutting out the so-called Labor Bill of Rights and the charge
that pressure was brought to bear by the Chamber of Commerce and
other business interests to defeat it?

A. I have told many friends that I have in the labor movement that
I didn't think this Labor Bill of Rights belonged in the Constitution.
And I don't. I think when you get down to the provinces of collective
bargaining and recognition of labor organizations where they relate
particularly to employees in the public sector, and to employees in
the public sector of a quasi-military nature such as policemen, some
very careful and definitive wording is involved in spelling out what
is to be done. A constitution is not the instrument to provide this.
The general Bill of Rights — Declaration of Rights in our constitution
— I believe provides sufficient leeway to allow the Legislature to act
in this particular area and I believe it should be left to the Legislature.

STATEMENT ON COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
AND ALCOHOLISM

January 4, 1968

The 1966 Maryland General Assembly authorized the construction
of community mental health centers, to be financed by State, Federal
and local funds at a later date. But thus far it has been largely a paper
program and will likely remain one unless positive action is taken
now to implement it.

Recently, the courts have ruled that chronic alcoholics cannot be
imprisoned for public inebriation. If many of our streets are not to
become skid rows, we must provide facilities other than jails for
alcoholics. One out of every seven Marylanders either has this disease
or is affected directly by it as a family member or employer. Alco-
holism is responsible for $6 million in State welfare costs annually
and is estimated to cost Maryland industry $52. 5 million in lost time
each year.

In recognition of both of these critical problems, this administra-
tion will propose to the 1968 General Assembly an emergency pro-