J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                          1761

destroyed by fire, or otherwise not in their possession as a result of
causes beyond their control.

The Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fish advises
me that the Bill, as drawn, does not provide a workable procedure
with adequate safeguards to protect the State from false or fraudulent
claims for reimbursement. The Director points out that there are
now approximately 500 agents located throughout the State, and, in
order to protect the State's interest, insurance covering all hazards
set forth in the Bill would have to be acquired at a cost of approxi-
mately $10,000, which sum is prohibitive under the circumstances.

Accordingly, I feel compelled to veto this Bill.

With kindest personal regards and best wishes, I am

Sincerely yours,

(s) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.
JMT/JCM/rnb

House Bill No. 342—Board of Natural Resources

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with Amendments, Sections 1 to 4,
inclusive, of Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957
Edition and 1960 Supplement), title "Natural Resources", sub-title
"In General", sub-heading "Board of Natural Resources", relating
to and clarifying the composition of the Board of Natural Re-
sources, and to the selection of its chairman, relating to the terms
of members of the Board of Natural Resources, and to the powers
and duties of the Board and of its chairman.

May 1, 1961.

The Honorable Perry O. Wilkinson
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I have found it necessary to veto House Bill No. 342 and in ac-
cordance with Article II, Section 17, of our State Constitution, I am
returning the Bill to you along with my veto message.

This particular Bill pertains to the Board of Natural Resources.
Its primary purpose was to increase the size of the Board, increase
the terms of the Board members from four to eight years, and to
change the method of selecting the Chairman of the Board.

Lines 36 through 47 on page two of the Bill sets forth the terms
of office of the members of the Board and, generally, the method of
appointing them. Upon reading this particular language of the Bill,
it occurred to me that, as a practical matter, it is impossible to com-
ply with the language contained therein.

The provisions include appointments to the Board for staggered
eight year terms. However, in order to comply with the language
in a portion of this Bill, seven of the intended eight appointments