FIRST YEAR AS GOVERNOR 659

tegration of our community and relieve the unrest in our cities —
these are much more complicated.

Q. I was just wondering, Governor, as you were talking there. Of
course you have a new constitution coming up in Maryland, Virginia
meanwhile is talking about writing a new constitution, but don't you
think something should be done about streamlining and modernizing
the mechanics of State government? It seems to me that many of the
operations that you're using were being used 50 years ago before you
got all these new problems.

A. Yes, we started on this problem. We have a Task Force on Mod-
ern Management that this year has already made certain recommenda-
tions to streamline the structure of our State government. Of neces-
sity, because of the constitution you refer to, they weren't able to do
as much as if they had been able to positively identify the constitu-
tional mandate. But before they can get into their job in a very
definitive sense, we have to know whether we're operating under the
present constitution or whether the voters are going to adopt the new
one in May. I sincerely hope they adopt the new constitution.

Q. Will the new constitution give you more flexibility in redesigning
your government?

A. Yes, it gives the executive a greater amount of discretion in areas
that should be the executive's discretion in the administrative side of
things. Conversely, it gives the Legislature a little more discretion.
Under the new instrument they are allowed to call themselves into
session and not \vait for the executive to do that.

Q. What would you hope the current session of the Legislature ac-
complishes?

A. We have a very ambitious legislative package. Our primary pro-
grams are community mental health, the bond program to make a
really substantial start on the alleviation of water pollution, because
as you recognize very well the Bay is our greatest asset in Maryland,
and many other programs that are ancillary in the sense that they
don't relate specifically to Maryland problems. But we've been in-
terested in bringing the solutions to Maryland over a period of time,
such as a bill that we put in just yesterday to abolish capital punish-
ment. We're very much interested in certain recommendations of the
Legislative Council. And one thing that I've got to make certain of,
that where the Legislative Council at its initiative develops good pro-
grams for Maryland, that I am not remiss about jumping in and sup-