HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1979

I agree entirely with the suggestion of the Senator from the
5th District of Baltimore City and, hence, will veto the bill in
addition to which I will take steps to see that this question
is thoroughly considered to the end that a bill might be pro-
posed at the next session to meet the situation but without
jeopardy to the interests of charitable institutions.

CUMBERLAND.
HOUSE BILL 336.

March 28, 1945

Honorable John S. White,

Speaker of the House of Delegates,
State. House,
Annapolis, Maryland.

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am returning herewith House Bill No. 336, without approval,
for the following reasons:

"This Bill is applicable to the Police Force and Fire De-
partment of the City of Cumberland. It imposes specific re-
quirements as to the length of service, which must be ac-
quired by members of the Police Force before they are eligi-
ble for promotion as Chief of Police, Assistant Chief or
Lieutenant. Further, it stipulates that members of the Fire
Department must have gained certain length of service be-
fore they are permitted to take the examination for Chief
or Assistant Chief of the Department.

"The Bill has worthy objectives, in that it seeks to give
recognition to service in the respective departments. Under
ordinary circumstances there might be justifiable reasons for
imposing the conditions in the Bill but serious objection has
been raised as to its effect under the present emergency situ-
ation.

"It is urged that the Bill would prevent members of the
Armed Forces, now serving abroad in the nation's interest,
from being considered for any of the positions in question,
during the period after their return to civilian life. Emphasis
has been laid upon the fact that, under the terms of the
Bill, the City would be denied the right to appoint such
veterans who, for example, are receiving special training in
the military police force of the country or in the specialized
courses relating to fire prevention. I am quite confident that
the author of the Bill and those who supported it had no
intention to exclude service-men from consideration for these
appointments.