Second. The Governor for the purpose of making up his
budgets shall have the power, and it shall-be his duty, to re-
quire from the proper State officials, including herein all ex-
ecutive departments, all executive and administrative offices,
bureaus, boards, commissions and agencies expending or super-
vising the expenditure of, and all institutions applying for
State moneys and appropriations, such itemized, estimates and
other information, in such form and at such times as he shall
direct. The estimates for the Legislative Department, certified
by the presiding officer of each House, of the Judiciary, as
provided by law, certified by the Comptroller, and for the pub-
lic schools, as provided by law, shall be transmitted to the
Governor, in such form and at such times, as he shall direct,
and shall be included in the budget without revision.

The Governor may provide for public hearings on all esti-
mates and may require the attendance at such hearings of
representatives of all agencies, and of all institutions applying
for State moneys. After such public hearings he may, in his
discretion, revise all estimates except those for the legislative
and judiciary departments, and for the public schools as pro-
vided by law.

Third. The Legislature may, from time to time, enact such
laws, not inconsistent with this Section, as may be necessary
and proper to carry out its provisions.

Fourth. In the event of any inconsistency between any of
the provisions of this Section and any of the other provisions
of the Constitution, the provisions of this Section shall prevail.
But nothing herein shall in any manner affect the provisions
of Section 34 of Article III of the Constitution or of any
laws heretofore or hereafter passed in pursuance thereof, or
be construed as preventing the Governor from calling extra-
ordinary sessions of the Legislature, as provided by Section 16
of Article II, or as preventing the Legislature at such extra-
ordinary sessions from considering any emergency appropria-
tion or appropriations.

If any item of any appropriation bill passed, under the pro-
visions of this Section shall be held invalid upon any ground,
such invalidity shall not affect the legality of the bill or of any
other item of such bill or bills.*

SEC. 53. No person shall be incompetent, as a witness, on
account of race or color, unless hereafter so declared by Act
of the General Assembly.

SEC. 54 No county of this State shall contract any debt,
or obligation, in the construction of any railroad, canal, or
other work of internal improvement, nor give, or loan its
credit to or in aid of any association, or corporation, unless

*Thus amended by Chapter 159, 1916, ratified November 7, 1916.