104 MARYLAND MANUAL.

time to time, or be repealed; provided, nothing herein contained
shall be construed to extend to banks, or the incorporation thereof.
Article III, section 48, Constitution.

The General Assembly has a power to regulate, not inconsistent
with the Constitution, all matters relating to the Judges of Elec-
tion, time, place and manner of holding elections, and of making
returns thereof. Article III, section 49, Constitution.

Bribery of, or the attempt to bribe any member or officer of
the Legislature, is punishable by a fine of not less than $100,
nor more than $5, 000, or, in the discretion of the court, by im-
prisonment in the penitentiary, from two to twelve years, or both
by fine or imprisonment, and any person so bribing shall also be
forever disfranchised and disqualified from holding any office of
trust or profit in the State. (Acts of 1868, chapter 369, sec-
tion 1. )

No money can be appropriated by the Legislature out of the
treasury for the payment of any private claim by the State ex-
ceeding the sum of three hundred dollars, unless said claim shall
have been first presented to the Comptroller of the Treasury, to-
gether with the proofs upon which the same is founded, and re-
ported upon by him. Article III, section 52, Constitution.

The General Assembly has power to declare a witness incom-
petent on account of race or color. (Article III, section 53,
Constitution. )

No county of the State can contract a debt, or give its credit
to an organization or corporation, except with the consent of the
General Assembly; and after said debt or credit is given the
General Assembly must approve by a majority of each house of
members elected, to make such debt or credit valid. Article III,
section 54, Constitution.

The General Assembly shall pass no law suspending the writ
of habeas corpus. Article III, section 55, Constitution.

The General Assembly has power to pass all such laws as are
necessary for carrying into execution the powers vested by the
Constitution. Article III, section 56, Constitution.

The Legislature has power to alter the legal rate of interest.
Article III, section 57, Constitution.

The Legislature is prohibited from creating a State pension
commissioner, or establishing any general pension system in the
State. Article III, section 59, Constitution.

It is declared the duty of the General Assembly to pass laws
to punish with fine and imprisonment any persons who shall re-
move into any election districts or precincts for the purpose of
voting illegally. Article I, section 4, Constitution.

A uniform registration law is required to be passed by the
Legislature. Article 1, section 5, Constitution.