J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     2213

It is also our belief that since the Constitution provides that the
Governor shall receive for his services an annual salary of $15,000,
the Legislature could not increase the salary. House Bill 502 calls
the payment to be made thereunder "a pension or salary". State v.
Appling, 348 P. 2d 759 (Ore., 1960) holds that a provision in the Con-
stitution that "members of the Legislative Assembly shall receive for
their services a salary of $600 per annum payable as provided by law"
prevents the enactment of a statute increasing the salary.

Another persuasive consideration that the attempt to increase the
salary of the Governor by legislative action would be unconstitutional
is the fact that all previous increases in the salary of the Governor
have been by constitutional amendment.

For the reasons set forth above we believe that House Bill 502 could
not constitutionally apply to Governors already retired from the
service of the State, to the present Governor or to future Governors
of the State.

Sincerely,

(s) Thomas B. Finan,

Attorney General.
TBF/imb

House Bill No. 505—Trailers in Carroll County

AN ACT to add Section 45E to the Code of Public Local Laws of
Carroll County (1930 Edition, being Article 7 of the Code of Public
Local Laws of Maryland (1930 EDITION), title "Carroll County,"
subtitle "County Commissioners," to follow immediately after Section
45D thereof, having been added to Article 7 by Chapter 806, 1961
Laws of Maryland, providing for an annual permit fee for trailers
in Carroll County, with certain exceptions therefrom, and relating
generally to trailers in Carroll County.

May 2, 1963.

Honorable Marvin Mandel
Acting Speaker
House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Md.

Dear Mr. Mandel:

In compliance with Article 2, Section 17, of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I am returning to you, along with my veto message House
Bill No. 505. The same having been vetoed by me today.

This legislation is a local Carroll County Bill. The Bill pertains
to the issuance of permits by the County Commissioners to the
owners of trailers and relates generally to the use of trailers in
Carroll County.

By letter dated April 4th, the office of the Attorney General ad-
vised me that this Bill fails to meet the requirements of Article 15
of the declaration of rights and, therefore, is unconstitutional. I
have passed my veto on the unconstitutionality of this Bill.