WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 363

Supplement), title "Chancery", sub-title "Divorce", provid-
ing that a divorce a vinculo matrimonii may be obtained
by reason of the voluntary separation of the parties for
three consecutive years.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 40 of Article 16 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1943 Supplement), title "Chancery", sub-title
"Divorce", be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

40. Upon a hearing of any bill for a divorce, the court may
decree a divorce a vinculo matrimonii for the following
causes, to wit: first, the impotence of either party at the
time of the marriage; secondly, for any cause which by the
laws of this State, render a marriage null and void ab initio;
thirdly, for adultery; fourthly, when the court shall be satis-
fled by competent testimony that the party complained against
has abandoned the party complaining, and that such abandon-
ment has continued uninterruptedly for at least eighteen
months, and is deliberate and final, and the separation of the
parties beyond any reasonable expectation of reconciliation;
fifthly, when the husband and wife shall have voluntarily
lived separate and apart, without any cohabitation, for three
consecutive years prior to the filing of the bill of complaint,
and such separation is beyond any reasonable expectation of
reconciliation.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1947.

Approved March 29, 1947.

CHAPTER 241.
(House Bill 262)

AN ACT to repeal Sections 772 and 773 of Article 3 of the
Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland (1930 Edition)
title "Baltimore County", sub-title "Traders Licenses",
relating to traders' licenses in Baltimore County and huck-
sters' licenses as to persons selling goods from wagons in
Baltimore County.

WHEREAS, The provisions of Sections 772 and 773 of Article
3 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland (1930 Edi-