196'8 ARTICLE 44A

in connection therewith, and every estate, interest and right, legal or equita-
ble, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment,
mortgage or otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens.

(m) "Obligee of the authority" or "obligee" shall include any .bond-
holder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders, or lessor demising to the
authority property used in connection with a housing project, or any
assignee or assignees of such lessor's interest or any part thereof, and the
Federal Government when it is a party to any contract with the authority.

(n) Wherever the term "resolution" is used in this Act, referring to
action of the governing body of a City, as herein defined, it shall be taken
to mean "ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore," where
applied to action by the governing body of Baltimore City.
Cited in Matthaei v. Housing, Authority, Daily Record, Jan. 5, 1940.

1937, ch. 517, sec. 4.

4. In each city (as herein defined) of the State there is hereby created
a public body corporate and politic to be known as the "Housing Authority"
of the city; provided, however, that such authority shall not transact any
business or exercise its powers hereunder until or unless the governing body
of.the city by proper resolution, approved by the Mayor, shall declare at
any time hereafter that there is need for an authority to function in such

city.

The governing body may adopt a resolution declaring that there is need
for a housing authority in the city if it shall find (a) that insanitary or
unsafe inhabited dwelling accommodations exist in such city or (b) that
there is a shortage of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations in such city
available to persons of low income at rentals they can afford. In determin-
ing whether dwelling accommodations are unsafe or insanitary said govern-
ing body may take into consideration the degree of overcrowding, the per-
centage of land coverage; the light, air, space and access available to the
inhabitants of such dwelling accommodations, the size and arrangement of
the rooms, the sanitary facilities, and the extent to which conditions exist
in such buildings which endanger life or property by fire or other causes.
In any suit, action.or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement
of or relating to any contract of the authority, the authority shall be con-
clusively deemed to have become established and authorized to transact
business and exercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a
resolution by the governing body declaring the need for the authority and
the approval of the resolution by the Mayor thereof. Such resolution or
resolutions shall be deemed sufficient if it declares that there is such need
for an authority and finds in substantially the foregoing terms (no further
detail being necessary) that either or both of the above enumerated condi-
tions exist in the city. A copy of such resolution duly certified by the Clerk
shall be admissible in evidence in any suit, action or proceeding.

1937, ch. 517, sec. 5.

5. When the governing body of a city adopts a resolution as aforesaid,
it shall promptly notify the Mayor of such adoption. Upon receiving such
notice, and approving said resolution, the Mayor shall, appoint five persons
as commissioners of the authority created f or said city. The commissioners
who are first appointed shall be designated to serve for terms of one, two,
three, four and five, years, respectively, from the date of their appointment,
but thereafter commissioners shall be appointed as aforesaid for a term of