692 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

"Correctional authorities feel that the chances of rehabilitation are
better when the prisoner is kept in or near his home environment.
The regional detention center would allow the highly effective work-
release program to be used more widely. "

The impetus for the legislation came last summer during one of
the Governor's personal visits to Maryland counties. The Tri-County
Council for Southern Maryland requested that he investigate the pos-
sibility of a regional prison there, implementing a concept that had
been discussed before but never acted on. Since then several other
counties have expressed interest in the proposal.

While the bill makes no requirement for such facilities, the Gover-
nor said he felt sure it would provide the incentive for more and more
counties to undertake such ventures on an economical basis.

"At the present time, local governments cannot afford the modern
facilities or specially trained correctional personnel required to offer
necessary rehabilitation services, and prisoners languish in local jail
houses with little benefit to themselves or to society, " the Governor
said.

COMMENTS TO THE PRESS ON PINBALL MACHINES
February 16, 1968

Question. Governor, would you please explain your position on pin-
ball machines?

Answer: I want to see them eliminated. This includes pinball ma-
chines in private clubs, fraternal and religious organizations and every-
where. The existing ban on slots calls for the elimination of slot
machines everywhere, with no exceptions as to religious or fraternal
or private organizations. Pinball machines are just like slots — they
can be adapted to gambling with the same facility. It would be in-
consistent to make slots illegal in private clubs and pinballs legal.

Q. What is your position on the Gambling Committee study?

A. I think it has a lot of merit but I want to be very careful in pro-
posing the legislation, so I have informed Mr. Miles that I would like
to see the legislation referred to the Legislative Council for study. I'd
like to avoid the McCarthy type of witch hunt tactic that may result
from a super-investigative State agency.