270 State Papers and Addresses

matter what develops later concerning any measures before the General As-
sembly.

To give some idea of the topics that have been thoroughly discussed, I
might mention the matter of State roads, where rights-of-ways, roadside
beautification, access and egress roads, and many allied details have been
delved into thoroughly, not only with the State Roads Commission but with all
interested parties. The importance of such discussions is easily established
when it is remembered that some millions of dollars of Federal funds for our
highways were seriously jeopardized because our antiquated and ineffective
right-of-way laws have permitted serious delays in starting proposed highway
construction.

Policing of our State roads, and suggestions for making the State Police
System more nearly adequate to the demands upon it, have been studied by
the Council; desirable change in rules to help prevent legislative jams in the
future have been drawn up, together with proposals for economies; a study
has been made of the problem of local legislation, one of the major worries
of former legislatures; the farmers of the State have had an opportunity to
present a program for solving many of their problems; a survey has been
made of installment selling in the State.

The matter of the elimination of almshouses, about which in former years
people talked but did nothing, has been gone into thoroughly with a special
commission and representatives of the various counties; more uniform laws
for the transfer of real estate, and for providing bona fide titles for property
bought at tax sales, will prove a great boon to another large portion of our
residents.

The motorists of our State will be benefited if legislation to be recom-
mended by the Council is adopted into law. This proposal calls for the adop-
tion of permanent automobile tags in our State, which new system would
make for much greater convenience to automobile owners in that they would
not be compelled to procure new licenses each year. In addition, the pro-
posed plan calls for the issuance of tags in the county seats, thus avoiding
the congestion and inconvenience necessarily caused by the ordinary rush at
the Automobile Commissioner's Office when the deadline approaches.

The important Conservation question, than which there is no more press-
ing problem, has been before the Council and the approaching Legislature
will have the benefit of the discussion and research resulting from this con-
sideration. Maryland has priceless possessions in her natural resources and
it is our sacred obligation to have them safeguarded for the greatest better-
ment not only to the present but to future generations.

Because of the important nature of the questions involved, the Council
has given the most thorough consideration to proposed legislation affecting
the sale of fireworks in our State and proposals for State supervision of Build-
ing and Loan Associations, where so many of our citizens have their savings
on deposit or. invested.

During the period in which the Legislative Council has functioned, I am
convinced that it has given clear evidence of its great possible and actual
value to our State. The many, many hours of hearings, plus the additional
days and weeks of research and fact-finding, should improve the quality of
Legislation. I believe the people of Maryland can look forward to a session
of the Legislature that should be most helpful to the State, and that should