8 CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND.

Charles and Calvert, which have had no direct advantage from such works
as. have been heretofore aided by the State; and provided that such aid,
advances or appropriations shall not exceed in the aggregate the sum of
five hundred thousand dollars. And they shall not use or appropriate the
proceeds of the internal improvement companies, or of the State tax, now
levied, or which may hereafter be levied, to pay off the public debt (or) to
any other purpose until the interest and debt are fully paid or the sinking-
fund shall be equal to the amount of the outstanding debt; but the General
Assembly may, without laying a tax, borrow an amount never to exceed
fifty thousand dollars to meet temporary deficiencies in the Treasury, and
may contract debts to any amount that may be necessary for the defence
of the State. And provided further that nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit the raising of funds for the purpose of aiding or com-
pensating in such manner or way as the General Assembly of the State shall
deem proper, those citizens of the State who have served, with honor, their
Country and State in time of War; provided, however, that such action of
the General Assembly shall be effective only when submitted to and ap-
proved by a vote of the people of the State at the General Election next fol-
lowing the enactment of such legislation. ¹

Sec. 35.

The provision as to diminution of compensation of public officers applies to
those holding offices of legislative creation as well as those established by the
Constitution; county treasurer of Calvert County; term. Calvert County v.
Monnett, 164 Md. 101.

Allowance to sheriff for keeping prisoners not salary within meaning of this
section. Bowman v. Harford Co., 166 Md. 296.

Sec. 36. ²

Sec. 38.

Party brought into court for contempt to compel performance of money de-
cree—not for alimony—may not be imprisoned. Dickey t: Dickey, 154 Md. 681.

Alimony does not constitute debt within meaning of that term as used in
this section, but provision for support of children does. Decree to pay specified
sum in installments in full satisfaction of all claims by wife in accordance with
agreement of parties was not decree for alimony. Bushman v. Bushman, 157
Md. 170.

Sec. 39.

This section cited to show that creditors of bank in receivership need not
wait to enforce liability of stockholders for agreement to defer claims until
1938 does not mean that claims cannot be paid before that time. Robinson v.
Hospelhorn. Daily Record, June 27, 1935.

Sec. 40.

Act 1927, ch. 119, adopting plan for conservation of oysters, does not violate
this section, or art. 23 of Declaration of Rights. Powers of Legislature not de-

1 Thus amended by act of 1924, ch. 327, and ratified by the people November 4,
1924.

2 An amendment repealing this section prohibiting lotteries was submitted by act
of 1935, ch. 463, and will be voted upon by the people in November, 1936. Por this
section in its present form, see page 95, vol. 1, 1924 ed.