J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     1435

ately after Section 33 thereof, to provide that no probationer ap-
pointed by promotion from another class within the same State
agency, department, or board may be rejected on probation unless he
is returned to his former position, in which event he shall receive
credit for time spent in the promoted class.

May 6, 1966.

Honorable William S. James
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with the provisions of Article 2, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill 528.

This Bill would add a new section to the Merit System Law
(Article 64A) to provide that no probationer appointed by promo-
tion from another class within a State agency may be rejected un-
less he is returned to his former position. In my opinion this Bill
violates the basic concept of judging an employee on his own merits.

Under the Bill, an employee who is promoted and then re-
jected on probation would be returned to his former position. If that
former position has been subsequently filled by a permanent em-
ployee, then the new employee would lose his job. It is also possible
that a rejection on probation of a higher level promotional employee
could cause a chain reaction and result in several people being de-
moted back to their original positions through no fault of their own.

It would seem to be most unfair to cause an employee to be either
demoted or have his service terminated because some other em-
ployee far above him in the organization was unable to perform his
duties efficiently. The State Commissioner of Personnel strongly
urges that this Bill be vetoed.

For the above enumerated reasons, I feel compelled to veto
Senate Bill 528.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(s) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.

Senate Bill No. 546—Howard County—Zoning

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 21
(d) of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edi-
tion), title "Zoning and Planning," subtitle "Planning," subheading
"Title 2—Zoning," and to add new Section 21 (k) to said Article,
title, subtitle, and subheading of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1965 Supplement) to provide that a zoning decision by the HOW-
ARD COUNTY County Commissioners must be handed down