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Proceedings and Debates of the 1967 Constitutional Convention
Volume 104, Volume 1, Debates 749   View pdf image (33K)
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[Nov. 14] DEBATES 749

turkeys in Garrett which do not exist in
Worcester; that soil conditions on the
Western Shore are different from those on
the Eastern, and therefore, that when the
State has in the past acted with regard to
natural resources and conservation, it has
done so area by area because it necessarily
had to do so.

This is not an argument in favor of pub-
lic local laws. It is merely a recognition
that the State varies by geography, by
content of species of game, fish and other
wildlife, and also the flowers and trees
within it and streams and rivers.

I think the committee recommendation is
wise in providing that the General Assem-
bly shall provide by law, and this means
that the General Assembly could continue
to treat these areas as it has, and as I think
it desirably has in the past.

As for stating it in the Constitution, I
think it is desirable. I can recall myself
when as a young boy growing up on the
Susquehanna Flats of Maryland we could
shoot canvasback ducks, or catch rockfish.
We cannot any longer because in the main
they are not there any longer. I think there
is no more important area other than hu-
man resources to be dealt with, and I think
it should be dealt with.

THE CHAIRMAN: Does any other dele-
gate desire to speak in favor of the amend-
ment?

Delegate Chabot?

DELEGATE CHABOT: I would like to
ask Delegate Hardwicke a question.

THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Hardwicke
is not here.

Delegate Hardwicke, would you yield for
a question?

DELEGATE HARDWICKE: Yes, Mr.
Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Chabot.

DELEGATE CHABOT: Your answer to
the question posed by Delegate James con-
fused me a bit. Did you mean that under
this provision the governor would have con-
stitutional powers that he might otherwise
not have, or did you mean simply that he
would have an obligation to act, using the
constitutional powers that are given to
him elsewhere?

DELEGATE HARDWICKE: Delegate
Chabot I did not intend and this is also in
response to Delegate James' question, I did
not intend that additional powers be given

to any branch of the government, particu-
larly to the executive. I did intend the ex-
ecutive and the General Assembly would
have obligations.

DELEGATE CHABOT: Thank you.

THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Burgess,
for what purpose do you rise?

DELEGATE BURGESS: In opposition
to the amendment.

THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recog-
nizes Delegate Burgess to speak in opposi-
tion to the amendment.

DELEGATE BURGESS: I cannot speak
strongly enough against this statement of
policy in the constitution. I submit to you
that there is at the present time a certain
policy to the same general effect, and I
also submit to you that it has very little
actual effect.

We have presently in the area of water
pollution such other things the Water Re-
sources Commission and other such devices
of the State, which for theoretical purposes
are to protect the same things we have
been talking about here, that is the clean
water in the State, and hopefully the air in
the State. We also apply it to such things
as the Maryland State Health Department
for redress in these matters. In my experi-
ence in Prince George's County, we have
the problem of dealing with what was re-
ferred to, when we were talking about the
mass uprising of quiet desperation, by
people that own land along the Potomac.
In spite of all the lofty ideals recited, those
waters are becoming tree-lined sewers, and
I use the term advisedly. We tried to op-
pose some of these things at their inception,
but it does not work, I am here to tell you.
I would say to you that if we do not look
into this problem, if we do not make as
strong an admonition in this constitution
as we can, we will not need the things we
are concerned with here because we will
not have people around to be concerned
with.

All of this discussion of 1984 may be
reality by necessity. We will not have
Utopia. We will have a fight to stay alive.

I had the misfortune, or good fortune if
you will, to be a vice chairman of a com-
mittee of the Federal Bar Association that
dealt with mines, minerals and natural re-
sources. Ladies and gentlemen, Harry Tay-
lor's reference to insomina is a good one.
When you hear those knowledgeable speak-
ers you realize what a problem this is. We
are talking about an element of survival,

 

 

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Proceedings and Debates of the 1967 Constitutional Convention
Volume 104, Volume 1, Debates 749   View pdf image (33K)
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