1961] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES 65

I regret that the necessity arose to ask you to return here so soon
after the adjournment of the regular session. But the State Constitution
(Art. II, Sec. 16) charges me with the responsibility of convening the
Legislature in special session when "extraordinary occasions" arise.

By your action here today, you have demonstrated that you are in
agreement with me that such extraordinary condition existed.

At the regular session, which was adjourned on April 1, you passed
two measures of utmost importance to the people of our State. It should
be noted that both bills passed both houses of your Honorable Body
without a single dissenting vote.

One of these bills was designed to implement a provision of our
State Constitution which was intended to improve the administration of
justice by establishing a new Municipal Court for Baltimore City.

The other measure had as its purpose the establishment of regulatory
authority over savings and loan associations to protect the investments
of our citizens in these institutions.

After I signed the two bills, petitions for referendums were filed
with the Secretary of State, the effect of which was to suspend the effective
date of these two important measures.

It was my opinion, an opinion in which you have concurred, that
the suspension of the two measures created an emergency justifying the
action you have taken here today.

The new Municipal Court, set up by you and sanctioned by an over-
whelming majority of the voters of the State, would have been seriously
handicapped without the legislation you passed here today.

Likewise, without the emergency legislation you passed our citizens
who invest their money in certain sayings and loan associations would
have remained unprotected in these investments.

I should like to emphasize that, despite statements which have been
made to the contrary, the people of the State in no way have been denied
their Constitutional right to approve or disapprove by referendum legis-
lation passed by the General Assembly.

They will, in fact, be able to exercise that right on the two measures
in question in the general election next year if the petitions filed with
the Secretary of State are found to be proper.

May I commend all of you for the orderly manner in which you
conducted today's session. I am particularly grateful to you for con-
fining yourselves to essential issues.

Again, with sincere thanks, and with kindest personal regards to all
of you, I am,

Sincerely,

J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor

Which was read and ordered journalized.