SEC. 37. The General Assembly shall pass no Law pro-
viding for payment by this State, for Slaves emancipated
from servitude in this State; but they shall adopt such
measures, as they may deem expedient, to obtain from the
United States, compensation for such Slaves, and to receive,
and distribute the same, equitably, to the persons entitled.

SEC. 38. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, but
a valid decree of a court of competent jurisdiction or agree-
ment approved by decree of said court for the support of a
wife or dependent children, or for alimony, shall not con-
stitute a debt within the meaning of this section.(1)

SEC. 39. The books, papers and accounts of all banks
shall be open to inspection under such regulations as may
be prescribed by law."

SEC. 40. The General Assembly shall enact no Law au-
thorizing private property to be taken for public use with-
out just compensation, as agreed upon between the parties,
or awarded by a jury, being first paid, or tendered to the
party, entitled to such compensation.

SEC. 40A. The General Assembly shall enact no law au-
thorizing private property to be taken for public use with-
out just compensation, to be agreed upon between the par-
ties, or awarded by a jury, being first paid or tendered to
the party entitled to such compensation, but where such
property is situated in Baltimore City and is desired by this
State or by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, the
General Assembly may provide for the appointment of ap-
praisers by a Court of Record to value such property, and
that, upon payment(3) the amount of such valuation to the
party entitled to compensation, or into Court and securing
the payment of any further sum that may be awarded by
a jury, such property may be taken.(4)

SEC. 40B. The General Assembly shall enact no law au-
thorizing private property to be taken for public use with-
out just compensation, to be agreed upon between the par-
ties or awarded by a jury, being first paid or tendered to
the party entitled to such compensation, except that where
such property in the judgement of the State Roads Commis-
sion is needed by the State for highway purposes ( the Gen-
eral Assembly may provide that such property may be tak-
en immediately upon payment therefor to the owner or
owners thereof by said State Roads Commission or into

(1) Thus amended by Chapter 14, Acts of 1950, ratified Nov. 7, 1950.
(2) Thus amended by Chapter 151, Acts of Sp. Sess. of 1936, ratified Nov. 3, 1936.
(3) The word "of" evidently omitted.
(4) Added by Chapter 402, Acts of 1912, ratified Nov. 4, 1913.