1680                                      Vetoes

mittee consisting of the Comptroller, the President of the Senate and
Speaker of the House, and the minority and majority floor leaders.
This bill would have no effect during my term of office, but I believe
it is a most unwise departure from the recognized constitutional
separation of legislative and executive powers. Except for constitu-
tional provision, such as that for the election of the State Treasurer,
I know of no statutory provision for appointments to office by the
legislative branch of the government. The constitution does recognize
the right of the Senate to require approval of executive appointees,
and there is no quarrel with this proposition.

In my opinion, the State Auditor is a branch of the executive de-
partment of government, as much as any other department head, for
whom the Chief Executive should and does bear full responsibility
in exercising the appointive powers. I see no public benefit nor any
valid reason for the change. The system has functioned well for
generations and through successive administrations the office of
State Auditor is one which has remained essentially non-political
in character. Furthermore, if the appointive power in such matters
cannot constitutionally be foisted upon the judiciary, as decisions of
our Court of Appeals have held, it would seem equally questionable
that the Legislature could arrogate such power to itself.

I am therefore returning House Bill 556 without my signature.

Respectfully,

(s) Theodore R. McKeldin,

Governor.
TRMcK/tk

House Bill No. 641—Earth Removal Equipment on Roads

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendment, Section 273 (a)
of Article 66½ of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1951 Edition),
title "Motor Vehicles", sub-title "Operation of Vehicles Upon
Highways", specifying the permissible width, without permit, of
vehicles operated by contractors of earth removal equipment
EARTH REMOVAL EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES TRANS-
PORTING SUCH EQUIPMENT.

April 15, 1957.

Hon. John C. Luber

Speaker of the House of Delegates

State House

Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

House Bill 641 would remove the present 96 inch vehicle limitation
solely to allow the transportation of earth moving equipment up to
114 inches in width.

Under proper safeguards and restrictive routing, such equipment
can presently be moved upon permits from the State Roads Commis-
sion. Not only would this bill remove the necessity for obtaining a
permit and the safeguards thus provided, but it might well be an
opening wedge to a demand for greater authorized widths for all other