1442 VETOES.

it at the request of the County Commissioners, on the ground
that the bill is mandatory and unlimited as to time, and the
Commissioners have the authority to provide for Mrs. Ross
under their general powers.

(Chapter 437, Senate Bill 97)

This Bill directs the Board of Welfare to pay a pension of
$1, 000 a year to Fred A. Diffenbauch. Mr. Diffenbauch was
formerly a guard and assistant warden at the Penitentiary, but
his connection with the institution was severed on September
13, 1905. I have been advised of no reason which would jus-
tify granting him a pension after the lapse of almost twenty-
four years. The bill will be vetoed.

STATION HOUSE MATRONS IN BALTIMORE CITY.

(Chapter 259, House Bill 85)

This bill provides for eight additional Station House Ma-
trons in order that they may work on an eight-hour per diem
basis. No funds have been provided for these additional ma-
trons, and there are objections to any law which specifically
limits the working hours of those connected with the Police
Department to any particular period of time. The Police
Commissioner contemplates certain changes in the Department,
which would likely have the effect of putting the matrons on
an eight-hour basis without any law, and without increasing
their number. I am, moreover, approving Chapter 287, House
Bill 420, which increases the pay of the matrons from $32. 50
per week to $35. 00 per week.

For the above reasons, House Bill 85 will be vetoed.

NON-SUPPORT CASES.
(Chapter 233, House Bill 341)

This bill provides that the wife shall not be entitled to sup-
port if the jury finds that she has committed any act which
would preclude her from securing a divorce from her husband.

This would enable the husband! to raise in a non-support
case every issue which he could raise if he were being sued
for a divorce. The two proceedings are not similar, and the