(14) In the event of any inconsistency between any of the pro-
visions 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 Sec-
tion 34 of Article 3 of the Constitution or of any laws heretofore
or hereafter passed in pursuance thereof, or be construed as
preventing the Governor from calling extraordinary sessions of
the General Assembly, as provided by Section 16 of Article 2, or
as preventing the General Assembly at such extraordinary ses-
sions from considering any emergency appropriation or appro-
priations.

(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. ⁸⁶ Vacant.

SEC. 54. ⁸⁷ No County of this State shall contract any debt,
or obligation, in the construction of any Railroad, Canal, or oth-
er 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.

SEC. 55. The General Assembly shall pass no Law suspending
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 exe-
cution the powers vested, by this Constitution, in any Depart-
ment, or office of the Government, and the duties imposed 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 shall provide by Law for State
and municipal taxation upon the revenues accruing from busi-
ness done in the State by all foreign corporations.

00

SEC. 59. The Legislature shall pass no law creating the of-
fice of "State Pension Commissioner", or establishing any gener-
al pension system within this State.

90
SEC. 60. The General Assembly of Maryland shall have

the power to provide by suitable general 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 manner the General As-
sembly may prescribe, of convicts imprisoned under sentence for
crimes.

01

SEC. 61. (a) The General Assembly may authorize and em-
power any county or any municipal 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 rehabilitation of slum or blighted areas, and to include the
acquisition, within the boundary lines of such county or munici-
pal corporation, of land and property of every kind and any
right, interest, franchise, easement or privilege therein, by
purchase, lease, gift, condemnation or any other legal means.
The term "slum area" shall mean any area where dwellings
predominate which, by reason of depreciation, overcrowding,

"Repealed by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Amended by Chapter 71, Acts of 1960, ratified Nov. 8, 1960.
"Amended by Chapter 99, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956.
"Amended by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
""Added by Chapter 453, Acts of 1914, ratified Nov. 2, 1915.
"Added by Chapter 444, Acts of 1959, ratified Nov. 8, 1960.

faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sani-
tary facilities, or any combination of these factors, are detrimen-
tal 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 obsolescence, 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, regardless of whether or not it has been
developed, redeveloped, altered or improved and irrespective of
the manner or means in or by which it may have been acquired,
to any private, public or quasi public corporation, partnership,
association, person or other legal entity.

No land or property taken by any county or any municipal
corporation for any of the aforementioned purposes or in con-
nection with the exercise of any of the powers which may be
granted to such county or municipal corporation pursuant to
this section by exercising the power of eminent domain shall be
taken without 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.

All land or property needed, or taken by the exercise of the
power of eminent domain, by any county or any municipal cor-
poration for any of the aforementioned purposes or in connec-
tion with the exercise of any of the powers which may be grant-
ed pursuant to this Section is hereby declared to be needed or
taken for public uses and purposes. Any or all of the activities
authorized pursuant to this section shall constitute governmental
functions undertaken for public uses and purposes and the pow-
er of taxation may be exercised, public funds expended and pub-
lic credit extended in furtherance thereof.

(b) The General Assembly may grant to any county or any
municipal corporation, by public local law, any and all addition-
al power and authority necessary or proper to carry into full
force and effect any and all of the specific powers authorized by
this section and to fully accomplish any and all of the purposes
and objects contemplated by the provisions of this section, pro-
vided such additional power or authority is not inconsistent with
the terms and provisions of this section or with any other provi-
sion or provisions of the Constitution of Maryland.

(c) The General Assembly of Maryland, by public local law,
may establish or authorize the establishment of a public body or
agency to undertake in a county or municipal corporation (other
than Baltimore City) the activities authorized by this section,
and may provide that any or all of the powers, except the power
of taxation, herein authorized to be granted to such county or
municipal corporation shall be vested in such public body or
agency or in any existing public body or agency.

(d) The General Assembly may place such other and further
restrictions or limitations on the exercise of any of the powers
provided for in this section, as it may deem proper and expedi-
ent.

(e) The provisions of this section are independent of, and shall
in no way affect, the powers granted under Article XI-B of the
Constitution of Maryland, title "City of Baltimore ?Land De-
velopment and Redevelopment." Also, the power provided in
this section for the General Assembly to enact public local laws
authorizing any municipal corporation or any county to carry