2160                                      Vetoes

the Commission on Medical Discipline to properly regulate the activi-
ties of licensed medical physicians in this State.

I am aware that my decision to veto the abortion bill will be dis-
appointing to many of our citizens who earnestly and sincerely be-
lieve that the question of abortion is one that should be decided solely
by a woman and her doctor. And I concur so long as both are pro-
tected by adequate safeguards in the law.

Since this measure was enacted, many members of the General
Assembly who voted for it have advised me that they have changed
their opinions and would prefer to see the measure vetoed and a bill
with adequate safeguards prepared. They have explained that the
bill did not receive the scrutiny it needed because of the rush of legis-
lative business in the final days of the 1970 session.

It is reasonable to assume that the next session of the General
Assembly will consider legislation concerning abortions, and I hope
that the members of the General Assembly will keep in mind the safe-
guards that I have referred to.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marvin Mandel,

Governor.

House Bill No. 533—Destruction of Court Records

AN ACT to add new Section 1A to Article 17 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume), title "Clerks of
Courts," subtitle "General Duties of Clerks," to follow immediately
after Section 1 thereof, to authorize clerks of courts to destroy cer-
tain books and papers. AND TO REPEAL AND RE-ENACT, WITH
AMENDMENTS, SECTION 8 OF ARTICLE 54 OF SAID CODE
(1969 SUPPLEMENT) TITLE "HALL OF RECORDS," SUBTITLE
"HALL OF RECORDS COMMISSION," ESTABLISHING A PRO-
CEDURE FOR DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN BOOKS AND
PAPERS BY CLERKS OF COURTS THE CLERK OF THE COURT
OF BALTIMORE COUNTY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HALL
OF RECORDS AND THE ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES FOR
SUCH DESTRUCTION.

May 26, 1970.

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 533.

This Bill adds a new Section 1A to Article 17, relating to duties
and responsibilities of the clerks of the various courts of Maryland.
The specific provisions of Section 1A relate to the destruction by the
clerk of pleadings, papers, and files which have become outdated and
serve no useful purpose.