2106 VETOES

BINGO

May 7, 1951

Hon. John C. Luber
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

House Bill 738 amends the provision of the Criminal Article
of the Code relating to the playing of bingo so as to exclude
from the definition of "any permanent place of amusement or
entertainment, " outdoor amusement parks or other areas of
not less than five acres. This would not only permit the play-
ing of bingo in established amusement parks, but also in an
area used for no other purpose except the playing of bingo, if
the site met the rather loose requirement of containing at least
five acres of ground.

This would seem to be an unnecessary broadening of the law
by assuring commercial connection with the conduct of bingo.
Prior experience of Baltimore City clearly demonstrates that
such authorizations are not in the best interests of the general
public.

Therefore, I am returning House Bill 738 without my ap-
proval.

Respectfully,

THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor

TRMcK/o'c

CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE

May 7, 1951
Hon. John C. Luber
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland
Dear Mr. Speaker:

House Bill No. 128 adds a new article to the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1947 Supplement) under the title "Claims
Against the State, " to provide a procedure for enforcement of
such claims. The act is modeled in a large degree after the
Federal tort claims act. Investigation reveals no real neces-
sity for the unduly cumbersome machinery of the act in this
State. Liability insurance coverage is provided for all motor
vehicles of the State and its agencies, and these policies carry
a specific exclusion against the defense of sovereign immunity.
The situation in the State is therefore unlike that formerly