302 BANKS. [ART. 11

availing themselves of the provisions of sections 14-18, when
they shall have -become banking associations under the act of
congress; and all sums required by the charters of said insti-
tutions and banks to be paid to the State shall continue, as
heretofore, to be paid.

1888, art. 11, sec. 15. 1865, ch. 144, sec. 4.

17. Whenever any bank, savings institution or savings bank
in this State shall have surrendered its charter, and become an
association for the purpose of banking under the laws of the
United States, all its assets, real and personal, without other
transfer, shall vest in and become the property of such associa-
tion, and said association shall be responsible for all the debts
and liabilities of said bank, savings institution or savings bank,
incurred prior to the surrender of its charter.

Ibid. sec. 16. 1865, ch. 144, sec. 5.

18. Whenever the charter of any bank, savings institution
or savings bank, in the State, has been surrendered, as herein-
before provided for, the members of the board of directors, last
in office, shall forthwith deliver up all the plates and dies of
said bank, savings institution or savings bank, to the superior
court of Baltimore city, when said bank, savings institution or
savings bank is located in that city, or to the circuit court for
the county in which said bank, savings institution or savings
bank may be located; and the judge of each of said courts
shall cause the said plates and dies to be destroyed in his
presence, and also in the presence of the president or cashier
of said bank, savings institution or savings bank; and the
members of board of directors, who wilfully refuse or neglect
so to do, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on
conviction shall be severally punished by a fine not exceeding
five hundred dollars.

Ibid. see. 17. 1870, ch. 206, sec. 1.

19. Associations for carrying on the business of banking may
be formed by any number of persons, not less in any case than
five, who shall enter into articles of association which shall
specify, in general terms, the object for which the association is
formed, and may contain any other provisions not inconsistent
with the provisions of this article, which the, association may
see fit to adopt for the regulation of the business of the associa-