68 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

and shall also keep or cause to be kept an accurate record of
his official acts.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect on and after May 4, 1908.

Approved March 30, 1908.

CHAPTER 126.

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 23 of the Code of Pub-
lic General Laws of Maryland of 1904, entitled "Corpora-
tions, " sub-title "Railroad Companies, " to come in immedi-
ately after Section 265, and to be designated as Section 265A.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That a new section be added to Article 23 of the Code
of Public General Laws of Maryland of 1904, entitled "Corpora-
tions, " sub-title "Railroad Companies, " to come in immediately
after Section 265, and to be designated as Section 265A, author-
izing the leasing of railroads, in the, following form:

SEC. 265A. It shall be lawful for any railroad company in-
corporated under the laws of this State, to lease its railroad
and franchise for the operation thereof to any other railroad
company incorporated under the laws of this or of any other
State of the United States whose railroad, within or without
this State, shall, either directly or by means of intervening line,
connect with the railroad so to be leased to said company, and
thus forming a continuous route or routes for the transporta-
tion of persons and property, and it shall also be lawful for any
railroad company incorporated under the laws of this State to
become the lessee of the railroad and the franchises for its
operation of any other railroad company incorporated under
the laws' of this or of any other State of the United States
whose railroad, within or without this State, shall, either
directly or by means of intervening line, connect with the rail-,
road of the lessee company, and thus forming a continuous
route or routes for the transportation of persons and prop-
erty; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall
authorize any company incorporated under the laws of this
State to lease its railroad to any railroad company whose rail-
road within this State competes with the railroad of the lessor
company, nor shall any railroad company incorporated under
the laws of this State become the lessee of any railroad which
competes in this State with the railroad of the lessor company;
and provided further, that the agreement of lease shall not con-
tain any provisions in conflict with the provisions of this