ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR.               1423

dents and for providing compensation in case of such inju-
ries and property damage.

WHEREAS, The State of Maryland recognizes that there are
now a vast number of motor vehicles using the streets and
highways of this State, that their use involves death and inju-
ries to a great number of other users of the streets and high-
ways, and that under the rules of common law and the provi-
sions now in force an unequal burden is cast upon its citizens
and that in determining the responsibility of motor car drivers
great and unnecessary cost is now incurred in litigation; and

WHEREAS, The State and its taxpayers are subjected to a
heavy burden in providing care and support for such injured
and their dependents, which burden should, in so far as may
be consistent with the rights and obligations of the people of
the State, be more fairly distributed; and

WHEREAS, It is recognized that the common law system gov-
erning the remedy of the injured and killed and their depend-
ents on the streets and highways, places an unequal burden in
proof of the responsibility for such accident upon persons when
they are least able to help themselves, due to their physical
incapacity; and

WHEREAS, The number of these injured and dead has be-
come so great as to materially retard the prosperity of the
people of the State in that the lessening of the normal con-
sumer demand for other than the barest necessities of life has
caused substantially increased and general unemployment;
therefore be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the
Governor of the State of Maryland be and he is hereby author-
ized and empowered to name a commission, of not less than
five members, to serve without compensation, to investigate
and study the problem of losses sustained through personal in-
jury and property damage caused by motorists, to determine
whether any remedy is feasible or practicable which will tend
to prevent such accidents and/or to provide compensation for
such personal injuries and property damage, and to recom-
mend to the Governor and the General Assembly the enact-
ment of such legislation relating thereto as said commission
may deem desirable; and be it further