THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 2139

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

May 7, 1951

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

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am returning herewith without my approval House Bill
No. 681 for the reasons stated in the attached memorandum.

Respectfully,

THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,
Governor

After earnest consideration, I have decided to veto House
Bill 681. This bill would make unprecedented departures from
sound administrative procedures, and would work drastic
changes in the relation of the University of Maryland to the
rest of the State government.

Foremost among the reasons for my action is that it exempts
the University from all restraint by any "Board, Bureau or
Commission". No other institution, public or private, that re-
ceives money from the State, is so utterly independent of out-
side authority. Moreover, the power and control of the presi-
dent is further enlarged by this bill at the expense of the
University's own Board of Regents, by transferring important
functions and responsibilities from that body to the president.

Such vast concentration of power in one man with virtually
unlimited mastery over the state University, its important
educational and other concerns, and the administration of its
multi-million dollar annual budget, has implications that de-
serve serious study.

This legislation would tend to aggravate certain features of
the University administration that have been criticized by every
Commission that has heretofore studied the University of
Maryland. It is based on no objective findings, and contains
features which, in my judgment, are basically unwise and sub-
versive of good administrative practice. It was introduced
late in the session and was passed hurriedly without adequate
consideration either in the Committees or on the floors of the
two Houses.

All purchases by the University are by this bill exempted
from the procedures established by law to prevent favoritism
and to promote efficiency and economy in the purchase of com-
modities and supplies. If this system is beneficial in the case
of all other agencies of the State, no reason appears for dis-