NEWS CONFERENCE 91

leased on parole to attempt to assist them in rehabilitating themselves
in the society. And all too often this brings them back into the penal
system again. It's a very costly and expensive thing for the people. If
we had the proper procedures and if the rehabilitation proceeded
better, we wouldn't have the rate of recidivism that we have at the
present time, which seems to be pretty high according to Mr. Bennett's
thinking.

Q. Would you consider again the possibility of him becoming Acting
Commissioner?

A. No.

Q. Did he make any requests on you?

A. No. The only thing he said to me as he left was, "I'm not looking
for a job. "

Q. Governor, you just mentioned the states where you have extended
recruitment efforts in, or you plan to. Now if you can't come up with
anyone connected with these particular state penal systems, would you
consider installing Mr. White as permanent Commissioner of Cor-
rections?

A. I certainly wouldn't overlook the possibility of considering Mr.
White. But if the Michaelson Commission recommendations, what I
think are going to be their final recommendations, continue — they
met yesterday incidentally in Baltimore — it seems to me that the
added responsibilities that are going to be created within the correc-
tional umbrella are going to require probably a person who's had
experience that goes beyond that of Mr. White's. This doesn't rule
him off the track, but it does indicate to me that we may have to go
to a person of broader experience.

Q. Would you consider an introduction of a bill, not this year but
maybe next year, that would authorize the construction of a new
Maryland Penitentiary per se?

A. I'm interested in the idea but I'm not entirely certain that the
need has been sufficiently documented for me to state unequivocally
that I favor the immediate construction of the institution. Some peo-
ple have reflected some feeling that no construction should take place
until the overall plan has been evolved for the way the correctional
system should exist ideally after the Michaelson restructuring recom-
mendations. I've got to make that decision very quickly, and certainly
before the end of this session of the Legislature.