1688                                      VETOES

This Bill would decrease the fee charged by Registers of Wills
from $1.50 to 75¢ for each copy of any paper or record furnished to
members of the public.

A substantial number of the Registers of Wills throughout the
State have requested that the Bill be vetoed. They point out that the
salaries and expenses of operating their respective offices are paid for
from fees collected in the course of administering the affairs of their
offices and that any deficits therein must be budgeted for by the
State. They further point out that in most of the counties the charge
of $1.50 per copy is commensurate with the costs their offices incur
in providing this service and that to reduce the fee as provided for in
this Bill would create a financial deficit in their operations. I am
advised that the deficit in some of the smaller counties would be quite
substantial.

It is true that in one or two of the larger counties, through the
use of expensive photocopying machines, the fee might be reduced
without creating a deficit. However, since this Bill would have a
seriously adverse impact on the revenues of most of the offices of the
Registers of Wills throughout the State, I am constrained to veto
House Bill 961.

With kindest personal regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(s) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.

House Bill No. 1146—Burial Cost for Veterans

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 4 of
Article 96½ of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement
Volume), title "Veterans," subtitle "Relief Fund," to provide for
State contribution to the burial cost of veterans.

May 4, 1965.

Honorable Marvin Mandel
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 1146, 1965 Session, and I am
returning this bill to you along with my veto message.

This bill amends Section 4 of Article 96½ of the Annotated Code
of Maryland to provide for State contribution to the burial cost for
veterans.

I have been advised by the State Department of Budget and
Procurement that had this bill been in effect last year it would have
cost the taxpayers of Maryland in excess of $180,000. It has also
been pointed out that the Federal government already contributes
$250.00 toward funeral expenses of veterans.