696 Usury. [ART. 95.

24. The Comptroller, together with the Treasurer of the State,
is authorized to examine, record and burn all such State coupons
as shall be paid and returned to the Treasury by the agents
employed to pay the interest on the public debt, and to make
report of their proceedings therein to the Legislature at each
session thereof.

25. The committee on Finance of the Senate, and the com-
mittee on Ways and Means of the House of Delegates, shall
during each session of the Legislature examine, count and burn
all bonds and certificates for stocks of the State, purchased or
obtained by the Treasurer during the recess of the Legislature,
up to the close of the fiscal year next preceding the session, for
the use of the sinking fund, and shall make report of their pro-
ceedings therein to the Legislature, at the same session in which
they shall perform the duties herein imposed upon them.

26. The agents employed to pay the interest upon the public
debt are hereby required semi-annually to transmit to the Trea-
surer of the State, all coupons they may have paid up to the
time of making such transmission.

ARTICLE XCV.
Usury.

SEC. 1. Interest may be charged or deducted at the rate of six
per centum per annum, and the same may be calculated accord-
ing to the standard laid down in Eowlett's Tables.

2. No plea of usury shall be available against any legal or
equitable assignee or holder of any bond, bill obligatory, bill of
exchange, promissory note, or other negotiable instrument,
where such assignee or endorsee or holder shall have received
the same for a bona fide and legal consideration, without notice
of any usury in the creation or subsequent assignment thereof.

3. If any person shall exact, directly or indirectly, for loan of

any money, goods or chattels, to be paid in money above the

value of six dollars for the forbearance of one hundred dollars