cates the Secretary of State shall collect double the fees al-
lowed by law to Clerks of Courts for recording documents of
similar length; and one-fourth of the sum so collected shall be
paid by him to the State Tax Commissioner, to whom such ab-
stract shall be transmitted for record; and said Certificate is-
sued by the Secretary of State, or any certified copy thereof
by him, shall be prima facie evidence of the existence of said
corporation and the right to exercise the powers therein men-
tioned. Provided, that certified copies of the Certificate of
Incorporation of corporations, incorporated prior to the pass-
age of this Act, made by the Clerks of Courts and the State
Tax Commissioner shall be taken as prima facie evidence as
though this Act had not been passed.

SEC. 5. When such certificate has been issued and the bonus
tax, if any, payable, paid to the Treasurer of Maryland, the
incorporators, their associates and. successors shall, accord-
ing to the purposes, conditions and provisions in. the Certifi-
cate contained, become and be a body corporate by the name
therein stated.

SEC. 6. No Certificate of Incorporation shall be declared
void for formal defects merely; and where an effort has been
made in good faith to form, under the laws of this State a cor-
poration formable thereunder, neither party to any trans-
action with it shall deny the legality of its incorporation or
organization in any suit or proceeding growing out of such
transaction; and "transaction" shall include any wrong to
person or property giving rise to a cause of action or equitable
relief by or against such corporation.

GENERAL POWERS.

SEC. 7. Every corporation which is subject to the pro-
visions of this Article shall have the following general powers,
except where the special provisions relating to any particular
classes of corporations are inconsistent herewith:

(1) To have perpetual succession by its corporate name.

(2) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in all
Courts.

(3) To make and use a common seal and alter the same at
pleasure.

(4) To transact its business, carry on its operations with-
in or without this State, and to exercise in any other State,
territory, district or possession of the United States, or in any