HARRY W. NICE, GOVERNOR. 1343

and benefit of said corporation, and shall have the power to
establish a public system of parks, public squares and play-
grounds for the recreation, interest and amusement of its
citizens, and may convey and dispose of the same or any part
thereof, and to receive property by gift, devise or deed in trust
for any municipal object.

SEC. 43. This Act shall not affect or impair any right
vested or acquired and existing at the time of the passage of
this Act, nor shall this Act in any manner affect the title to
any real or personal property now held or owned by Commis-
sioners of Ridgely, but title to such property shall continue
in Commissioners of Ridgely, in the same manner and to the
same intent as though this Act had not been passed, nor shall
this Act impair, discharge or release any contract, obligation,
duty, liability or penalty whatever now existing. All suits
and actions, both civil and criminal, pending, or which may
hereafter be instituted for causes of action now existing or
offenses already committed against any law or ordinance
repealed by this Act, shall be instituted, proceeded with and
prosecuted to final determination and judgment as if this Act
had not been passed. No tax levied or any proceeding taken
for the collection of any such tax or the enforcement of the
payment of the same before the passage of this Act shall in
any manner be affected by the passage of this Act, and the
mode of procedure in any such matter shall be the same as if
this Act had not been passed.

SEC. 44. All laws now in force relating or applicable to the
Commissioners of Ridgely and not included in this Act and
not inconsistent with this Act, and all ordinances of the Com-
missioners of Ridgely now in force and not inconsistent with
this Act, are hereby continued in as full force and virtue as
if the Commissioners of Ridgely were named therein until
changed or repealed, respectively, by the General Assembly of
Maryland or by the Commissioners of Ridgely.

SEC. 45. All officers provided for or named in the Charter
of Ridgely or any amendments thereto, as it now stands before
the passage of this Act, whether by election or appointment,
shall continue to hold, exercise and discharge the duties of
their respective offices until their successors shall be duly
qualified, and nothing contained in this Act shall be construed
to interfere with the continuity of the terms of tenure of said
officers; nor shall a reappointment or re-election of any of said
officers be necessary in order to secure the said continuity of
their said terms and tenures of office, unless otherwise pro-
vided in this Act.