THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                  1323

by establishing a small truck garden on his plot of land, while waiting
for it to enhance still further in value.

Not only would the bill undermine the concept of assessing property
at its full cash value, but, in fact, it would only have meaning and
be of value to taxpayers where the land involved was really not farm
land. Since assessing officials advise that this a serious and illogical
backward step which would impede efforts to establish fair, proper and
uniform assessments at full cash value under the law, I have vetoed
House Bill 729.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor
TRMcK/tk

House Bill No. 791—St. Mary's County Orphans' Court

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 251 of
Article 93 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1951 Edition),
title "Testamentary Law", sub-title "Orphans' Court", authorizing
the three persons elected Judges in the Orphans' Court of St.
Mary's County to designate one of their number as Chief Judge.

May 11,1955

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

Dear Mr. Speaker:

for more than sixty years by statutory authorization, and prior
thereto by custom, the Governor of this State has designated the Chief
Judge of the Orphans' Court in each county and in Baltimore City.
House Bill 791 would change this procedure for one county of the
State and permit the Orphans' Court Judges of that county—St.
Mary's—to designate one of their number as Chief Judge.

The bill provides that the change in method of designation would
not apply until judges are selected at the next election in 1958. Ob-
viously, therefore, the bill would only affect the prerogative of sub-
sequent holders of the office of Governor. However, there is no
discernible reason for withdrawal of this power in a single county,
while permitting it to remain everywhere else. Such a change in a
law of statewide application is undesirable and an invitation to
confusion through other similar exceptions, varying in nature.

I have therefore vetoed House Bill 791.

Respectfully yours,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor
TRMcK :mg