358               Vetoes

have fully digested this confusing medley of words which
passes for an "exception" to the grant of unconditional
power? Posing as a restriction, this curious verbiage
seems to do many things to expand the University's power
at the expense of the Legislature itself. Is there any Legis-
lator who can be sure what interpretation will be put on
this language? Please read it again before voting on the
motion to over-ride the veto.

The General Assembly should be interested in one thing
this paragraph (d) seems to do. In preparing its budget,
the University has often under-estimated its special fund
income, thereby obtaining an increased appropriation from
general funds. The surplus thus arising from special funds
has been used by the University mostly for purposes not
foreshadowed in the budget; but any surplus in general
funds now reverts to the treasury. There have, indeed, been
methods of diverting such surpluses, but it has been true
that surplus general funds, if unobligated, would legally
revert to the Treasury for further disposition by future bud-
get action. Under the new law excess general funds, as
well as special funds, will not revert to the Treasury but
will be available to be spent by the University for some
other purpose on approval by the Board of Public Works
without legislative sanction.

Do members of the General Assembly realize that under
House Bill No. 26 not even they will have any voice over
the expenditure of such surplus? Thus, the bill invites jug-
glery with income estimates, and the Legislature renounces
the control it has heretofore had, if it chose to exercise it,
through the budget. Would such legislative abdication be
considered for one moment in the case of any other de-
partment? Is it necessary to secure the University's free-
dom? Is it warranted by any fair test?

Economy-minded members of both Houses have shown a
commendable interest in techniques to establish better legis-
lative budget control. Paragraph (d) is a move in the op-
posite direction; it yields up a measure of the control the
Legislature now has over the budget.

8. Finally, members of the General Assembly should ask
themselves: If the University of Maryland is to be given
this broad autonomy what about Morgan College, the
Teachers Colleges, and other institutions ? They will doubt-
less expect the same thing and with equal justice. Shall
we then have a series of independent governments, with the
State merely in the role of tax-gatherer and supplier of
funds?