HERBERT R, O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 2061

vigorously opposed the continuation of the practice of licensing
these machines.

It seems apparent that the voters had a right to rely upon
my assurance to veto any Bill that would seek to legalize and
license these devices. It is also significant to note that at the
same election, the voters passed upon a proposed Constitu-
tional Amendment relating to lotteries and rejected it by a
majority of 33, 000.

Similar Bills to the one in question were passed by the 1939
General Assembly and I vetoed these measures. Not only
would it be inconsistent for me to approve the present Bill,
rejecting the measures two years ago, but it would be unfair
to the representatives of other Counties who, knowing that I
would feel called upon to veto the measures, refrained from
introducing them into the Legislature.

Of course the expressed purpose of the Bill has my support,
as I would like very much to see the erection of a hospital in
Garrett County made possible. I do believe, however, that it
would be much more desirable to raise the funds in another
manner.

Incidentally, I was urged to sign one of the pin ball Bills
two years ago because the proceeds were to be used for hospital
maintenance. However, experience has shown that the hospital
has operated satisfactorily without this income.

I come back to the question of keeping faith with the
citizenry and inasmuch as it would be a repudiation of my
promise to the people during the campaign, I feel that I have
no alternative but to veto House Bill 570, which I am now
doing.

PLUMBERS.

Chapter 721 (House Bill 764). This measure relates to the
qualification of members of the State Board of Examiners of
Practical Plumbing and to classes of master plumbers.

The State Law Department, in its official opinion on this
Bill, points out that this enactment makes different classifica-
tions and imposes restrictions which are of doubtful validity.
The legal opinion also states that it is open to serious question
whether or not there is any reasonable relationship between
the public interest and the legislative requirement that before
a person can be qualified as a Master Plumber in the City of
Baltimore, he shall be required to maintain an established
place of business. In the words of the Attorney General:

Such a provision seems to have no reasonable rela-
tionship to the ability of the Master Plumber to per-
form his work skillfully and well. "