110 . State Papers and Addresses

"To the Board of Public Works for the acquisition of a site in Annapolis
and for the construction and equipment of a building to be known as the
Memorial Hall of Records, $200, 000. "

As incident to the commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of the found-
ing of Maryland, the act authorized the Board of Public Works to acquire
such lots or parcels of ground in the city of Annapolis, within the vicinity of
other public buildings as in the judgment of the Board of Public Works was
best suited for the purpose, and erect thereon a durable, modern, fireproof
building of adequate proportions and appropriate design and architecture to
be known as the "Memorial Hall of Records" in which shall be gathered and
preserved all ancient, public and private records of the State.

Finally in 1936, there was created a Hall of Records Commission to be
composed of the Governor of Maryland, the State Comptroller, the Chief Judge
of the Court of Appeals and the Presidents of Johns Hopkins University, St.
John's College, the Maryland Historical Society and the Board of Trustees
of the Peabody Institute of Baltimore. The commission thus created has
general supervision and control of the Hall of Records Building and) exercises
general authority over all matters in connection with its operations. The
advantages of this ex officio, self perpetuating commission are obvious; there
are no rapid or spontaneous changes in the care of the State's Records with the
change of administrations, and no possibility that the Archives will suffer
as they have in other states from political forces.

RED CROSS REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Carvel Hall, October 17, 1939
Annapolis

MARYLAND honors itself today in. paying tribute to the Red Cross. It was
my privilege to have ordered the Red Cross flag to fly from the staff
of the State House throughout the day in tribute to the patriotic men and
women who comprise this organization, it can be said that its representatives
have adhered steadfastly to the alleviation of human suffering and have never
shown discrimination. Friend or enemy, black or white, jew or gentile, all have
been the recipient of equal attention and unselfish effort.

Despite differences among nations and men, the Red Cross has been
welcomed with open arms on every front because all mankind recognizes their
impartial and loyal undertaking. The organization is great and effective
because its representatives have proven, through vicissitudes and emergencies,
that they can be entrusted with the greatest tasks which have confronted the
world. I stand in admiration and respect of such an organization, whose pri-
mary reason for existence, is to help our fellow-man without thought of
reward or favor.

It is, I might say, a human institution because its services are available
night and day to lead the work of rescue and relief in disaster, flood, fire, or
any other public emergency. I recall that only a few years back, Western
Maryland, in our own State, suffered great damage to property when the
Potomac River over-flowed its banks from Cumberland to Washington, and