WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 2277

Bill 369, specifically requiring the return of the roads to the
Counties, except certain designated ones, this bill is no longer
necessary, and will be vetoed.

HOUSE BILL 438

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
7 of Article 89B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1943
Supplement), title "State Roads", providing that said sec-
tion shall not apply to those counties or county road de-
partments desiring to do construction or improvement work
on county roads with their own forces, nor to county road
maintenance, construction or reconstruction by the State
Roads Commission in those counties where the duty of
maintaining, constructing or reconstructing county roads
is imposed upon the State Roads Commission.

The main purpose of this bill is to authorize the County
Commissioners, by resolution, to determine to make improve-
ments to county roads with their own forces, regardless of
the source of funds that are to be used, to pay the cost of
such road construction or improvements. It would empower
the County Commissioners, in certain instances or in all cases
to have road improvements made by what is known as force
account, without public bidding, instead of by contract open
to public bidding.

There are persuasive arguments both for and against the
bill. I am sympathetic with the view that the County Com-
missioners should be authorized, whenever, it appears for the
best interests of the public, to make road improvements with
their own forces, but I cannot avoid the feeling that such
authority, without any restriction or supervision, may be
open to grave abuse. Inasmuch as the State is distributing
large sums of money to the counties for road purposes, the
State has a deep interest in the manner of expenditure. It
would seem to me to be wisest, under the circumstances, to
give the matter further consideration, with the idea that, if
such authority is to be granted, the County Commissioners
ought to be required, whenever the power is exercised, to
keep such accounts and records as would give the State, and
any others concerned, complete information as to how the
funds were expended, and as to the results obtained.

The State Roads Commission is required under the provi-
sions of Senate Bill No. 359 (now Chapter 560 of the Acts of
1947) to keep accounts according to the requirements of that
law, and I would think that the counties should be required
to follow similar procedures, so that there would be an oppor-
tunity for comparisons, county by county, so that any abuse
could be promptly revealed. I have been informed that in-