WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 2101

expenses and costs of said Commission and shall pay any
salaries, costs and expenses so approved from the General
Emergency Fund authorized in the Budget.

26. The Commission is hereby authorized and empowered
to conduct a State wide survey to determine and classify,
in so far as is possible, such areas as are critically in need
of additional temporary and permanent housing accommo-
dations for veterans. The Commission is authorized and
empowered to coordinate the activities of interested private
persons or corporations and the Federal Government or any
of its agencies with the governing bodies of the several coun-
ties and cities in the State or their duly authorized repre-
sentatives. The Commission shall disseminate to the various
local political subdivisions so requesting all information in
its possession relative to Federal and other aid available for
the acquisition or construction of veterans' housing; accommo-
dations. The Commission is hereby empowered to act for
and on behalf of the governing bodies of the several counties
and political subdivisions or their representatives in nego-
tiations with the Federal Government or its agencies or
private industries for the purpose of obtaining housing ac-
commodations for the local counties or cities when so re-
quested by the local bodies.

27. The Commission is authorized and empowered to nego-
tiate and contract with the Federal Government or any of
its agencies for the purpose of obtaining funds or materials
to be used for the construction or maintenance of veterans'
housing accommodations in the State. The Commission shall
also have authority to receive from the Federal Government
or any of its agencies any grant or Federal funds or aid
that is now or may hereafter become available which, in its
discretion, will further the purposes of this Act. The Com-
mission is further authorized to consult with and seek aid
from representatives of the private building and other in-
dustries to formulate plans and recommendations as to the
most efficient method, in accordance with sound business and
financial policies, to relieve the housing shortage. Any con-
tract or agreement entered into by said Commission with
the Federal Government or any of its agencies or private
persons or corporations to which the State of Maryland is
a party shall first be approved by the Board of Public Works.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency law and necessary for the imme-
diate preservation of the public health and safety, and having
been passed by a yea and nay vote, supported by three-fifths