J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      479

April 7, 1964.

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

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article 2, Section 17 of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I am returning to you Senate Bill 74, which 1 have vetoed.

Under this bill, any rule or regulation pertaining to the per-
missible speed limit of any vessel on navigable waters located wholly
within the geographical boundaries of any county or other sub-
division, adopted by the Department of Tidewater Fisheries pursuant
to Section 8 (d), Article 14B of the Annotated Code of Maryland,
would become effective only if approved by the governing body of
such county or subdivision.

Section 8 (f) or Article 14B provides that on any proposed
regulations affecting the equipment and/or operation of any vessel
subject to Article 14B, the Departments authorized to promulgate
such regulations shall solicit the advice and opinions of the officials
of representative boating associations, yacht clubs, and local, state
or federal officials or agencies having knowledge or experience with
the subject of the proposed regulations affecting the equipment and/or
operation of boats in Maryland. As a further safeguard of the
public interest, Section 8 (d) of Article 14B provides that rules and
regulations promulgated under authority of Article 14B shall not
become effective unless they have been publicly advertised in at
least two daily newspapers of general circulation and one or more
weekly newspapers serving the area or areas involved at least forty-
five days before the date on which they become effective. When any
fifty citizens of the State shall file a petition with the Department
not less than fifteen days before the date any rules or regulations
become effective, a public hearing shall be held on the proposed rules
and regulations.

It appears to me that the public interest is adequately protected
through the procedure prescribed by present law. In practice, the
numerous speed regulations promulgated by the Department of Tide-
water Fisheries and the Game and Inland Fish Commission have
provided adequate safeguards without imposing undue hardships or
inconvenience on the operators of boats. I am not aware that any
governing body of a political subdivision of the State desires the
responsibility conferred by Senate Bill 74. If inequities exist in any
regulation presently in force, Senate Bill 74 would not correct these.
If such inequities exist, they can and will be corrected administratively.

For the reasons stated above, I believe it unnecessary that I
sign Senate Bill 74.

With kindest personal regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(S) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.