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Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor 349
for Senate Bill 48, pointing out that a commission soon is
to be appointed to study financing and other problems of
the public schools. I am confident that salary increments
will be among the subjects which shall have its attention.
Since this commission will be expected to make its report
prior to the 1953 session of the Legislature, I see no reason
for the haste in making this law for the following fiscal year
effective at this time.
Senate Bill 7 is, therefore, vetoed.
Respectfully,
Theodore R. McKeldin,
TRMcK:Q/js Governor
March 27, 1952
Honorable George W, Delia
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland
Dear Mr. President:
I am returning Senate Bill 48 without my approval for
the following reasons:
When the voters of Maryland, in 1948, approved an
amendment to the Constitution, establishing annual sessions
of the General Assembly, as submitted to them by the Legis-
lature of 1947, it was with the clear understanding that all
State appropriations would be made on an annual basis.
This was, indeed, the primary purpose of the annual sessions
and the primary argument for adoption of the amendment.
Senate Bill 48, by proposing to increase the salaries of public
school teachers in the fiscal year of 1954, for which the
regular appropriations bill will not be submitted until the
Legislature meets in 1953, seeks, in my opinion to circum-
vent the intent of the Constitutional Amendment.
Based on present estimates of revenue, Senate Bill 48 pre-
supposes new taxes or a tax increase in Fiscal 1954 to meet
the proposed salary increases. My policy, which I believe
has rather general approval among the citizens of Maryland,
continues to be one of avoiding any increase in the tax
burden of our people.
My belief that any increases in the salaries of teachers in
the public schools of the City of Baltimore and of the
counties of Maryland should be provided by the county
and city governments has not been altered.
Generally speaking, the counties and the city have met
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