ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR.               1435

It has been suggested by advocates of the structure that this
General Assembly authorize its construction and financing, the
same, however, to be contingent upon the favorable result of
the investigations still necessary to be made.

We do not believe this can be done. The State is not a
private or quasi-public corporation, but is subject to adminis-
trative limitations which are imposed upon it in the public
interest.

The undertaking furthermore means or at least may mean
too much to the taxpayers and the people of the State for the
General Assembly to delegate the decision, before the facts are
known, to any official or officials of the State.

If all other questions are resolved in favor of the bridge,
then the method of financing it will still remain. It is en-
tirely possible that the best method will be by pledging the tolls
to secure the bonds, but this would be an innovation in State
financing in Maryland, and while accepted elsewhere it does
involve questions and may involve consequences which ought
to receive the most thorough consideration. It is also possible
that the best method of financing will be through State bonds
secured by direct taxes. If so, this would increase the net
State debt by at least one-third of its present amount, but tolls
could be availed of as an offset to the carrying charges.

In either case the people and the taxpayers of the State are
entitled to full opportunity to consider every phase of the
matter, and the effect it would or might have upon their
interests, and they are entitled to pass upon it themselves
through their representatives in the General Assembly, after
the facts have all been presented for their consideration, and
not have this General Assembly, which does not and cannot
know the facts, pass the decision on to the executive officials
of the State Government.

The stockholders of no private corporation would proceed in
any such way. They would want the right to consider and
decide a question of this kind themselves, with all the facts
known and before them. The same right should be given the
people and the taxpayers of the State.

Your committee recommends, therefore, that the State Roads
Commission proceed with its investigations as promptly and
expeditiously as possible, and that as soon as completed the
same be submitted to the Governor of the State, who shall make
them public forthwith, and take such further action thereon
as he may deem best for the interests of the State.