ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 1051

use, the terms, conditions and rates of charges for such
use, provided, however, that any such contract for the use
of said bridge for such purpose or purposes shall in every
case provide for adequate compensation to said Company,
its successors and assigns. The rates of tolls and charges
so fixed shall be the legal rates, unless and until changed
by duly constituted public authority.

SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That no person, partner-
ship, association or corporation, private or public, shall be
authorized to, and it shall be unlawful for any person,
partnership, association or corporation, private or public,
to construct and operate any other bridge over the waters
of the Potomac River within a distance of fifteen miles of
the bridge the construction of which is herein provided for,
except such other bridge be erected after the acquisition
by the State of Maryland of the bridge to be erected pur-
suant hereto and with the consent of the General Assembly.

SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That a franchise tax is
hereby levied annually upon the -gross receipt of said Com-
pany, its successors and assigns derived from the tolls and
other revenues from said bridge, such tax being as follows,
to wit: 2 1/2% of so much of such gross receipts as shall
not be in excess of $500, 000 in any one year, and in addition
thereto 3 1/2% of so much of such gross receipts as shall
be in excess of $500, 000 and not in excess of $1, 000, 000
for such year, and in addition thereto 5 1/2% of so much of
such gross receipts for such year as shall be in excess of
$1, 000, 000 and that for the purpose of determining said
tax, said Company, its lessees, its successors and assigns
and any purchaser thereof shall make the appropriate re-
ports and be subject to the appropriate penalties provided
in Sections 172 and 191, inclusive of Art. 81 of the Code
of Public General Laws of this State, and of said tax 1/2 %
of such gross receipts as above specified shall be payable
to the Treasurer of the State and the remainder thereof
shall be payable to the Treasurer of Charles County and it
shall be the duty of the State Tax Commission, when it has
ascertained and fixed the amount of such tax to certify to
the Comptroller of the Treasury and to the Treasurer of
Charles County and to the said George Washington-Wake-
field Memorial Bridge, Inc.. the amount of such tax due the
State of Maryland and the said Charles County, and there-
upon said tax shall be collectible by the Treasurer of the
State of Maryland and by the Treasurer of Charles County