THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 1869

provides pensions for four former County policemen. Under
the present law, the Police Department has its own pension
system, and this Bill would give special treatment to certain
individuals not accorded to others. This is an unwise
practice, and if a public general law were thus affected,
would be clearly unconstitutional.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor

TRMcK/A

SENATE BILL NO. 492

May 6, 1953

Honorable George W. Della
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. President:

I am returning herewith Senate Bill No. 492 without my
approval. This Bill would make it mandatory that the State
Roads Commission take over two bridges across the
Patapsco River at Avalon and Ilchester, between Baltimore
and Howard Counties and immediately repair or rebuild
them.

Legislative direction of a specific administrative problem
of this kind is undesirable and unwise as a matter of policy.
This conclusion is entirely apart from any determination of
the merits of the proposal embodied in the Bill. Impressive
evidence has been submitted to me to justify the State
Roads Commission assuming responsibility for at least
one of the bridges. I am this day requesting the Commission
to study the problem involved as to each of these bridges
and arrive at its own final independent conclusion as
promptly as possible.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor

TRMcK/tk