Marvin Mandel, Governor                       2079

Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent, under the Great
Seal of the State of Maryland, to the President and Vice President
of the United States and members of the Maryland Delegation to the
Congress of the United States.
Approved April 15, 1970.

No. 14

(House Joint Resolution 72)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Governor of Maryland to ap-
point a Commission to explore alternatives for the utilization of
resources now engaged in the growing of tobacco so as to assure
residents of Southern Maryland continued economic stability.
Whereas, more than three hundred years after the founding of
the Free State, tobacco is still the mainstay of agriculture, a sig-
nificant element of commerce and the principal source of income of
thousands of residents in Southern Maryland; and

Whereas, campaigns by the nation's health authorities advertising
the dangers of cigarette smoking are reducing the consumption of
tobacco, and rising costs are making economic production increas-
ingly more difficult AS A RESULT OF RECENT REPORTS
ISSUED BY HEALTH AUTHORITIES, THE CONSUMPTION OF
TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS DECREASING, AND THE RISING
COSTS OF RAISING TOBACCO ARE MAKING ECONOMIC PRO-
DUCTION INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT; and

Whereas, the traditional source of livelihood for many families is
endangered, lands now in tobacco production are in prospect of
abandonment, and the resulting effects promise great loss to the
economy of the State of Maryland; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the General Assembly of Maryland declare this a
matter of grave concern and, recognizing the economic distress that
could result therefrom, request the Governor of Maryland to appoint
a commission to explore alternatives for the utilization of resources
now engaged in the growing of tobacco so as to assure residents of
Southern Maryland continued economic stability, and respectfully
suggest that membership of such a commission include representa-
tives of the Agricultural Commission, the Tri-County Council for
Southern Maryland, the College of Agriculture of the University of
Maryland, the Department of Economic Development, the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Plan-
ing; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor of
Maryland, THE MARYLAND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION,
THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE, the members of the Agricultural Commission,
the members of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, the
Dean of the College of Agriculture of the University of Maryland,
the Director of the Department of Natural Resources, and the Direc-
tor of the Maryland Department of Planning.

Approved April 15, 1970.

No. 15
(Senate Joint Resolution 8)

Senate Joint Resolution requesting a study of public and private own-
ership of school buses and for continuation of the existing system of
ownership pending completion of this study.