11,784

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delegates have had in reaching a common understanding of

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what constitutes lottery is striking evidence that the

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Maryland Gambling Study Commission says that the subject

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could more properly be treated by the General Assembly.

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As it is now, the Constitutional Convention has tentatively

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prohibited state or local governments from raising money

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through lotteries, but let the bars down for private

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entrepreneurs to conduct lotteries, or so the Commission

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fears. Presumably, the business Convention delegates

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could now reopen the lottery section and plug the hole to

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which the Commission heade by Clarance W. Miles has called

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attention, but a far easier and safer course is readily

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available. Drop lotteries as a Constitutional issue

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altogether, and leave the relatively inconsequential subject

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to Maryland legislators whose actions would be subject to

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public referendum, if they happened to go haywire.

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"The Miles Commission suggests this easier

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course not because it is soft on lotteries, it opposes

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them, but because it has confidence in legislative wisdom.

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That should be good enough for the Constitutional Convention

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as well, and if you want to quote newspapers, quote our