vail. But nothing herein shall in any manner affect the pro-
visions 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 ex-
traordinary sessions of the Legislature, as provided by Sec-
tion 16 of Article II, or as preventing the Legislature at such
extraordinary sessions from considering any emergency ap-
propriation 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
authorized by an Act of the General Assembly, which shall be
published for two months before the next election for mem-
bers of the House of Delegates in the newspapers published
in such county, and shall also be approved by a majority of
all the members elected to each House of the General Assem-
bly, at its next session after said election.

SEC. 55. The General Assembly shall pass no law suspend-
ing the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

SEC. 56. The General Assembly shall have power to pass
all such laws as may be necessary and proper for carrying
into execution the powers vested by this Constitution, in any
department or office of the Government, and the duties im-
posed upon them thereby.

SEC. 57. The legal rate of interest shall be six per cent per
annum, unless otherwise provided by the General Assembly.

SEC. 58. The Legislature, at its first session after the rati-
fication of this Constitution, shall provide by law for State
and municipal taxation upon the revenues accruing from
business done in the State by all foreign corporations.

SEC. 59. The office of "State Pension Commissioner" is
hereby abolished; and the Legislature shall pass no law cre-
ating such office, or establishing any general pension system
within this State.

**SEC. 60. The General Assembly of Maryland shall have
the power to provide by suitable general enactment (a) for

* Thus amended by Chapter 159. 1938. ratified November 7. 1816.
** Thus added by Chapter 453, 1914. ratified November 2, 1915.