770 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

A. Well, I wouldn't want to second guess Commissioner Pomerleau.
I think he's one of the most efficient police officers I've ever en-
countered, and I have heard nothing but praise for the way he handled
himself during the Baltimore situation. I'd like to add my public
commendation and approbation to the work done by the Baltimore
City police and the firemen who certainly did a fantastic job of con-
taining a very difficult situation — to the State Police and to the Na-
tional Guard.

Q. (Interruption. ) Governor, in the aftermath of the riot, do you
see any need for a special session to help the City of Baltimore?

A. I don't see any immediate need for a special session. We've been
embarked on a course of attempting to help the City of Baltimore,
that began soon after I took office, in the tax reform program and
the additional money that went to Baltimore that year which con-
sisted of some, as I recall, $48 millions of additional money. We're
trying as hard as we can to recognize the urban problem and help
Baltimore; to help the entire State in the areas of redress to conditions
of poverty and despair. I think the course that we've charted is a good
course and a logical one and not one that we should necessarily amend,
abandon, or in any way affect simply because of an incident or a series
of incidents stimulated in the main part by people who don't believe
in proper law and order.

(Request for Federal Aid to City)

Q. This morning at the Morris Mechanic Theatre Mayor D'Alesan-
dro said that he was pressing ahead by requesting the Federal govern-
ment to again declare Baltimore a disaster area. He was cognizant
of your previous statement on this and said that he felt that if by ap-
plication you kept up constant pressure, you might have some luck.
Do you have any second thoughts about this?

A. Oh no, I'm interested in doing what we can in this regard, and
as you have said, we are taking as many steps as we can to get the
maximum possible assistance for the innocent people who have been
damaged in the disturbances. So I will work with the Mayor — I want
to say this — that in spite of the Mayor's disagreement with me over
the course that I took last Thursday I still continue to have a great
regard and respect for the Mayor, and we have talked since that time
and we are not at odds with each other. I'm interested in doing what-
ever I can to make his administration a success.