LLOYD LOWNDES, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR. 381

BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES.

279. It shall be lawful for banks and bankers in the City
of Baltimore, to close their doors for business at twelve o'clock
noon, on each and every Saturday in the year; and every Sat-
urday in the year after twelve o'clock noon shall be a legal half-
holiday, so far as regards the presenting for payment or accept-
ance, and the protesting and giving notice of the dishonor of
bills of exchange, bank checks, drafts, promissory notes and
other negotiable paper; and for these purposes shall be treated
and considered as the first day of the week, commonly called
Sunday; and all such bills, checks, drafts and notes presentable
for acceptance or payment on Saturdays, shall be deemed to be
presentable for acceptance or payment on the secular or business
day next succeeding; provided, however, that all bills of ex-
change, drafts and promissory notes made after the passage of
this Article, except those payable at sight or on demand, which
shall be otherwise payable on any half-holiday Saturday, shall
be deemed to be and shall be payable on the next succeeding
secular or business day; and provided further, that for the pur-
pose of protesting or otherwise holding liable any party to any
bill of exchange, bank check, draft or promissory note, and
which shall not have been paid before twelve o'clock at noon on
any half-holiday Saturday, a demand of acceptance or payment
thereof may be made, and notice of protest or dishonor thereof
may be given on the next succeeding secular or business day;
and provided further, that when any person shall receive for
collection in said City of Baltimore, any bill of exchange, bank
check or promissory note due, and presentable for acceptance
or payment on any half-holiday Saturday, such person shall not
be deemed guilty of any neglect or omission of duty, nor incur
any liability in not presenting for payment or acceptance, or
collecting such bill of exchange, bank check, draft or promis-
sory note on that day; and provided further, that in construing
this section every half-holiday Saturday shall, until twelve
o'clock noon, be deemed a secular business day. Nothing in
this section shall affect the provisions of sections 9 and 10 of
Article 13 of the Code of Public General Laws applicable to
any Saturday, whenever the same, under the provisions of said
sections, shall be a legal holiday.