1958]                   OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES                       47

The upward tax adjustments which I proposed and you enacted are
in keeping with the times and, particularly, with Maryland's strong po-
sition in the industry and economy of the Nation. The desirable balance
of our revenue system has not been disturbed, and no special burden has
been placed on any business or population segment by these acts.

Beyond that there have been other notable enactments to the credit
of your Assembly and the advantage of the State and its people.

The enactment, after many years of effort, of a roadside control law
again stresses the value of persistence when the purpose is good.

I was delighted with the commendable and effective manner in which
the Members rallied to erase the blot on Maryland's good name that was
created by the establishment and expansion of river gambling casinos
in circumvention and defiance of the laws of a neighboring Commonwealth.

I am pleased too with the firm manner in which you served notice
that Maryland is not fertile ground for new forms of legalized gambling
and that our people are not so morally soft as to turn more and more to
the so-called easy money of gambling as an important source of public
revenue.

You have strengthened the position of the Maryland Port Authority
in the development and expansion of our shipping facilities.

Several other good bills were passed—too numerous for listing here.

The Session—like all its predecessors—was not, of course, without
its disappointments. Outstanding in this category is the failure to submit
to the voters of Maryland the oft-repeated Constitutional proposal to
establish a Municipal Court in Baltimore City. Here, again, persistence
eventually must prevail over the outside forces of obstruction which long
have succeeded in blocking this long-needed reform.

I was sorry, of course, to observe the distressing reductions in pro-
posed funds for the advancement of public health and the care of the
needy—but I am confident that we again will pick up where we left off
and resume our march of progress in these important fields.

All things considered, we again have demonstrated the vigor, force
and feasibility of our democratic form of Government.

I have enjoyed my work with you since your original convening on
February 5th. I wish you godspeed on your journeys home, and I thank
you again for your good services to Maryland.

Sincerely,

THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor.

ADJOURNMENT

At 1:45 o'clock P. M. on the motion of Mr. Boone, duly seconded,
the House of Delegates adjourned sine die.