2274 VETOES.

I am unwilling to give my approval to legislation on this
subject except that it be the result of study and deliberation,
because I am of the opinion that the sorely needed rehabili-
tation of the Chesapeake Bay can be accomplished only by
that practice.

For the above reason, the bill will be vetoed.

SENATE BILL 313

AN ACT to add a new sub-section to Section 12 of Article
72 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition), title
"Oysters", sub-title "Private Oyster Culture", as said Ar-
ticle was revised by Chapter 929 of the Acts of 1945, said
new sub-section to be known as Sub-section (z) of said
Section 12 and to follow immediately after Sub-section (y)
of said section, prohibiting the leasing of natural oyster
rocks or Bars in the Chesapeake Bay.

This bill repeats the present law which states that it is un-
lawful for the Department of Tidewater Fisheries to lease
any natural oyster rock or bar. The bill neither diminishes
nor extends the present authority of the Commission. While
there is no serious objection to the bill, I feel that it would
add unnecessary wording to the oyster law and for the sole
reason of brevity, it will be vetoed.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

HOUSE BILL 507

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections
1264 and 1265 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Prince
George's County (Flack's Edition, 1943), title "Sewers" as
enacted by Chapter 183 of the Acts of 1939 and Sections
928A and 928B of Article 17 of the Code of Public Local
Laws of Maryland (1930 Edition), title "Prince George's
County", sub-title "Sewers", to provide that permits for
cesspools, etc., be issued by the County Sanitary Engineer
instead of the County Board of Health.

This bill would authorize the county sanitarian to issue
permits for cesspools, etc., without obtaining the approval of
the county health officer. The Board of County Commis-
sioners in each county is also the County Board of Health,
and acting under them the county health officer is completely
responsible for the public health work in that county, which
includes the approval or disapproval of matters of this sort.
To divide that responsibility would lead to confusion at the
least, and for that reason I am vetoing the bill.