1886 VETOES

HOUSE BILL NO. 784

May 7, 1953

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

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I have this day vetoed House Bill No. 784, which provides
a small salary increase for the Baltimore City Traffic Court
Magistrates, but eliminates the authority to fix their
salaries in the State budget. This is a complete reversal
of the modern trend, in government to avoid fixed salaries,
and, in general, place the responsibility for same in the
Executive. The wisdom of such practice is high-lighted by
this bill, which is typical of literally hundreds of those with
which the Legislative is always compelled to concern itself.
The fixing of salaries by an inflexible statute thus would
require another legislative act even to make a very minor
salary change, here $225. 00.

A glance at this Bill shows the numerous amendments
in it by way of deletion and insertion and the obvious use
of a considerable amount of legislative time, aside from the
expense involved. A similar situation exists in many of the
Counties with regard to purely local offices, most of a very
minor character. The tendency shown in some of the local
sub-divisions to vest discretion in the County Commission-
ers or other governing body to fix salaries should be en-
couraged by the example of the State's satisfactory opera-
tion in this field.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor
TRMcK/A

HOUSE BILL NO. 788

May 6, 1953

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

Dear Mr. Speaker:

House Bill No. 788, which I am returning herewith as
vetoed, would eliminate the existing prohibition in the