2266 VETOES.

GAMBLING BILLS

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

SENATE BILL 336

SENATE BILL 438

HOUSE BILL 820

CHARLES COUNTY
SENATE BILL 334

FREDERICK COUNTY

HOUSE BILL 892

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
HOUSE BILL 762

ST. MARY'S COUNTY

SENATE BILL 276
HOUSE BILL 548

WORCESTER COUNTY
HOUSE BILL 396
HOUSE BILL 398

The General Assembly passed ten bills relating to gambling
and the distribution of county revenues from gambling in
six different counties, these bills, authorizing as they do, slot
machines and games of skill and chance, the making of bets
and wagers, and even, in one case, the operation of pari-mu-
tual machines for bets on midget automobile racing. This
legislation indicates a marked growth in the effort to spread
gambling in various forms over the State. Instead, however,
of proposing any change in the existing State policy, these
bills propose to extend gambling, in some instances by elec-
tion districts and in others, county by county, with the reve-
nues going either to the county or to some educational, char-
itable, fraternal or benevolent purpose in the county. I be-
lieve that the total of these proposals proves that it is unwise
for the State to permit such matters to be handled on a county
level entirely. The State has an interest in such matters
which cannot be avoided or ignored. If gambling is to be
authorized county by county it will not be long before the
entire State will be a haven and a paradise for gamblers and