356                                           Vetoes

I am not alone in this thinking.

I have before me a recent publication of the Council of State Govern-
ments, entitled "Planning Services for State Government."

In the study which led to the publication and in the report's prepar-
ation, the Council had the consulting services of an outstanding au-
thority in the field, Mr. Walter H. Blucher, former director of the
American Society of Planning Officials.

The report states that "experience of recent decades has indicated
that a planning service loses its central focus when it is charged with
such additional duties as that of administering particular programs,
like housing or industrial attraction ..... Almost inevitably this type
of assignment has altered the nature of the planning service, turning
it into another important operating agency."

The report adds: "As an agency administering a particular pro-
gram, the planning service soon becomes identified with that program
and is relied upon less and less for the balanced view and objective
analysis that are essential to the planning function."

It is my confident hope that you and your colleagues will agree
with me as to the inadvisability of burdening the important planning
arm of our Government with what surely would become a major func-
tion of promotion and administration.

Sincerely,

(s) Theodore R. McKeldin,

Governor.
TRMcK:O/c

House Bill No. 49—Property acquired by Military Department

AN ACT to add Section 58A to Article 65 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland, (1951 Edition), title "Militia", to follow immediately
after Section 58 thereof, authorizing the Military Department to
acquire by purchase or condemnation certain real properties lying
in Baltimore County adjacent to the Glenn L. Martin plant, which
properties are needed for the safe operation of the Fighter-Squad-
ron of the Air National Guard of the State of Maryland.

April 4, 1956.
Honorable John C. Luber
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am returning herewith, without my signature, House Bill No. 49.

This Bill is indentical with House Bill No. 13, passed during the
Special Session of the General Assembly on March 8th, and which is
now Chapter 14 of the Acts of 1956.

Therefore, House Bill No. 49 is vetoed.

Sincerely,

(s) Theodore R. McKeldin,

Governor.
TRMcK/tk