Article III
covered by the Budget, and which was enacted
before July 1 of the fiscal year prior thereto.
(13) The General Assembly may, from time to
time, enact such laws not inconsistent with this
section, as may be necessary and proper to carry
out its provisions.
(14) 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 noth-
ing herein shall in any manner affect the
provisions of Section 34 of Article 3 of the Con-
stitution or of any laws heretofore or hereafter
passed in pursuance thereof, or be construed as
preventing the Governor from calling extraordi-
nary sessions of the General Assembly, as provid-
ed by Section 16 of Article 2, or as preventing
the General Assembly at such extraordinary ses-
sions from considering any emergency appropria-
tion or appropriations.
(15) If any item of any appropriation bill
passed under the provisions 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.^ Vacant.
SEC. 54."" No County of this State shall con-
tract any debt, or obligation, in the construction
of any Railroad, Canal, or other Work of Inter-
nal Improvement, nor give, or loan its credit to,
or in aid of any association, or corporation, un-
less authorized by an Act of the General Assem-
bly.
SEC. 55. The General Assembly shall pass no
Law suspending the privilege of the Writ of Ha-
beas 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 provid-
ed by the General Assembly.
" Repealed by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified November 7,
197«.
" Thus amended by Chapter 71, Acts of 19<0, ratified Novem-
ber 8,1960.

Constitution of Maryland/813
SEC. 58.^ The Legislature 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 Legislature shall pass no law
creating the office of "State Pension Commission-
er", or establishing any general pension system
within this State.
SEC. 60.^ The General Assembly of Maryland
shall have the power to provide by suitable gener-
al enactment (a) for the suspension of sentence by
the Court in criminal cases; (b) for any form of
the indeterminate sentence in criminal cases, and
(c) for the release upon parole in whatever man-
ner the General Assembly may prescribe, of
convicts imprisoned under sentence for crimes.
SEC. 61.«" (a) The General Assembly may au-
thorize and empower any county or any munici-
pal corporation, by public local law:
(1) To carry out urban renewal projects which
shall be limited to slum clearance in slum or
blighted areas and redevelopment or the rehabili-
tation of slum or blighted areas, and to include
the acquisition, within the boundary lines of such
county or municipal corporation, of land and
property of every kind and any right, interest,
franchise, easement or privilege therein, by pur-
chase, lease, gift, condemnation or any other legal
means. The term "slum area" shall mean any
area where dwellings predominate which, by rea-
son of depreciation, overcrowding, faulty arrange-
ment or design, lack of ventilation, light or sani-
tary facilities, or any combination of these
factors, are detrimental to the public safety,
health or morals. The term "blighted area" shall
mean an area in which a majority of buildings
have declined in productivity by reason of obso-
lescence, depreciation or other causes to an extent
they no longer justify fundamental repairs and
adequate maintenance.
(2) To sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of said land or property, regard-
less of whether or not it has been developed, re-
developed, altered or improved and irrespective of
" Thus amended by Chapter 99, Acts of 1956, ratified Novem-
ber 6,1956.
" Thus amended by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified
November 7,1978.
" Added by Chapter 453, Acts of 1914, ratified November 2,
1915.
'" Added by Chapter 444, Acts of 1959, ratified November 8,
1960.