1794                                     VETOES

This Bill provides that employees of volunteer ambulance or
rescue squads or volunteer fire departments shall have immunity
from civil damages under certain circumstances.

Senate Bill 676, which was enacted by the General Assembly
and was signed by me on May 14, 1969, accomplishes the same pur-
pose as House Bill 374 and is in fact broader. Consequently, it is
unnecessary for me to sign House Bill 374.

Sincerely,
/s/ Marvin Mandel,

Governor.

House Bill No. 387—Natural Gas in Allegany County

AN ACT to add new Sections 572-1 to 572-10, inclusive, to the
Code of Public Local Laws of Allegany County (1963 Edition and
1967 Supplement, being Article 1 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland), title "Allegany County," to follow immediately after
Section 572 thereof and to be under the new subtitle "Natural Gas,"
levying a distribution and production tax on the business or occupa-
tion of collecting, distributing and producing natural gas or other
gases taken from the earth in Allegany County, providing generally
for the powers and duties of the county commissioner and of certain
other persons with respect to the levying, administration and collec-
tion of this tax and relating generally to the collection, distribution
and production of natural gas or other gases taken from the earth in
Allegany County and to the taxation and regulation thereof.

May 28, 1969.

Honorable Thomas Hunter Lowe
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 387 and am returning it to
you.

This Bill provides for a distribution and production tax on
natural gas, or other gases, taken from the earth in Allegany County.

I am informed by the Attorney General that this Bill is in con-
flict with Article 15 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights and
Article III, Section 29, of the Maryland Constitution. For the reasons
given in the attached copy of his opinion, which is to be considered a
part of this message, I believe that the measure must be vetoed.

Sincerely,
/s/ Marvin Mandel,

Governor.