2194                                         VETOES

Senate Bill No. 417—Forest Conservancy Districts

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 388
to 399, 400, inclusive, of Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land (1957 Edition), title "Natural Resources," subtitle "Forests
and Parks," subheading "Forest Conservancy Districts," to change
the subheading "Forest Conservancy Districts," to be "Forest Pro-
motion and Conservancy Districts," to revise the laws relating to the
use, promotion and preservation of forests and forest lands in the
State, providing for the appointment of district forestry boards, and
relating generally to the forest lands of the State.

May 6, 1963.

Honorable William S. James
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with the provisions of Article 2, Section 17, of the
Maryland Constitution, I have vetoed Senate Bill 417 and I am re-
turning this Bill to you accompanied by my veto message.

Although Senate Bill 417 incorporates several minor changes in
existing law, the major revision provides that appointments to the
various Conservancy Districts be made by the Governor rather than
by the Commission of Forests and Parks.

The members of the Commission have no objection to the Gover-
nor assuming this authority. However, there seems to be little
reason for this revision inasmuch as a Governor would make such
appointments upon the recommendation of the Commission. It seems
more appropriate for the Commission to be responsible for the entire
operation.

No individual has registered strong objections to any provisions
of the Bill, but members of the Commission of Forests and Parks
have indicated to me that further discussions regarding the essential
provisions of the legislation creating Conservancy Districts should
be undertaken prior to enactment of legislation in this area.

The members of the Commission have indicated that the present
law exempts agricultural interests and that some individuals are
circumventing the intention of this exemption and are making exces-
sive cuttings on steep slopes causing erosion damage.

It is because of this latter fact that I agree with the Commis-
sion's suggestion that further studies be made of this problem and,
therefore, I have vetoed Senate Bill 417.

With kindest personal regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(S) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.
JMT/Jd/Encl.