790 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

One of these bills raises motor vehicle registration fees by one
third, and the study commission documented that Maryland is one
of the lowest-priced states in the nation.

The bill will provide an additional $11. 4 million for our sorely
beset highway program and specify that programming be done on an
open-end five-year basis instead of the present inflexible six-year pro-
gram. The other bill authorizes the Sate Roads Commission to use
$25 million from its bond authorization to acquire highway rights-
of-way in advance of actual need, resulting in a considerable long-
range savings of motorist taxes.

The effect of this legislation will benefit Maryland motorists for
many years to come, and I would like to take this opportunity to
publicly thank Mr. Robert Redding, a Kensington resident who is
also general counsel to the Transportation Association of America,
and the members of his committee for their outstanding service. I
would also like to serve notice on them that many problems still re-
main with our roads program, and I am depending on their con-
tinued service in the year ahead.

COMMENTS ON SIGNING AIRPORT LEGISLATION

May 7, 1968

The next three bills that I sign will represent a major step forward
for Maryland in the field of air transportation. One creates a Maryland
Airport Authority, another establishes a method for its financing, and
the third provides for regulatory procedures for airport zoning in
the State. It has been my pleasure to work in close cooperation with
the Maryland Legislature in the development of all three measures.

The major immediate problem confronting the new authority will
be the transfer of Friendship International Airport from ownership
by the City of Baltimore to the State. I am asking Mr. Charles P.
Crane, whom I will designate as chairman of the new Airport Author-
ity, to head a transition committee to oversee an orderly transfer of
this major facility.

He will be assisted by subcommittees on administration and per-
sonnel, budget and financing, planning and engineering, and legal
problems.

Other members of the Airport Authority will be designated at an
early date.