1644                                      VETOES

in a fashion that could produce results not considered. The Com-
mission has informed me that it can take no position on the bill
since it has not had the time to study its provisions and their effect.

The sole purpose of the bill, according to its sponsors and mem-
bers of both County Administrations, is to comply with certain Fed-
eral Highway regulations. A check of the regulations cited by the
proponents indicates that they are still tentative and not yet adopted.
Furthermore, the regulations seem to require State regulation of
utilities along the highways and provide for State agreement with
local authorities to see that the regulations are carried out. Further
still, even if it is assumed that the County must comply with the
regulations for Federal money, I do not believe that this justifies
a State law as poorly drafted and hastily enacted as this one. The
State is always willing to cooperate with the Federal Government
when the reasons for the cooperation are clear and the State has
adequate advance notice to tailor its laws in a way to create the
fewest difficulties possible. The utility companies assure me that
they will also cooperate in order to be sure that the State receives
its share of Federal funds. But in no case should a law of such far
reaching effect be pushed through at the insistence of Federal Au-
thorities without notice to all those affected.

Senate Joint Resolution 8, passed at the 1968 Session:, asks for
a study of the laws of the Public Service Commission by the Legisla-
tive Council. It seems sensible to ask the sponsors of this measure
to refer this bill to the Council for study at the same time. I also
pledge the cooperation of this office with County authorities to make
certain that no Federal funds are lost in the interim.

For the above reasons I am compelled to veto this measure.

Sincerely,
(s) Spiro T. Agnew,

Governor.

House Bill No. 90—Nursing Home Loan

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 2,
6 and 7 of Chapter 652 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1966,
to correct errors in the Nursing Home Loan of 1966 authorizing the
issuance of bonds by the State of Maryland for the purpose of aiding
in the construction of nursing homes in the State of Maryland.

May 7, 1968.

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

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Section 17 of Article II of the Maryland
Constitution, I have vetoed today House Bill 90 and am returning
it to you.