1292                                      VETOES

May 9, 1955

Honorable Louis L. Goldstein
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. President:

Senate Bill 568 would eliminate the existing authority of the
Secretary of State to make such distribution of the Maryland Manual
as he deems necessary or desirable and would require him to make a
charge for all copies distributed by him, other than to members of the
Legislature, schools, the Maryland State Library and the Department
of Legislative Reference.                                          s

Under his existing authority, the Secretary of State furnishes
necessary copies of the manual for use of the Executive Department
and to all of the other State Departments, Boards and Agencies. The
bill would thus require the interchange of State funds between various
agencies to the Secretary of State, who would otherwise be precluded
from furnishing the manual to such agencies. At present non-official
requests are referred to the printer, who maintains a small supply
of additional copies as a convenience.

The last printing of the manual cost the State about $9,000.00, for
which it received 4300 volumes. More than 3800 volumes were
necessary to fulfill the specific requirements of the law, and including
distribution to all State Agencies. Between 400 and 500 volumes
were available for distribution to various organizations and persons
deemed to have official importance; included in this category were
requests for additional copies from members of the Legislature and
various State Agencies. The other requests, which were referred to
the printer, resulted in the sale of about 200 volumes.

The only possibly valid reason for changing the present system of
distribution would be to effect an economy. However, it appears from
the aforegoing that the Secretary of State would have to set up ma-
chinery for the sale of a few hundred books, and the time and ex-
pense involved from the standpoint of his office, as well as that of
other State Agencies, could not justify the change. I have accordingly
vetoed the bill.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor

TRMcK/A

Senate Bill No. 575—Motor Vehicle License Fees

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 6 of
Chapter 657 of the Acts of 1953, as said section was amended by
Chapter 9 of the Acts of 1955, postponing from 1956 to 1957 the
effective date of certain taxes, permits and registration fees ap-
plicable to motor vehicles which were imposed by said Chapter 657
of the Acts of 1953.