54 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 21

CHAPTER 21.

AN ACT authorizing the Governor to declare successive legal
holidays, during the period of the present war, whenever he
deems that the public interests so require, and declaring the
effect thereof.

WHEREAS, It is possible that exigencies or emergencies inci-
dent to the present war may make it necessary or desirable
that successive legal holidays be declared throughout the State
of Maryland, or in one or more counties, cities, towns or vil-
lages thereof; therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the Governor of this State is hereby author-
ized, during the period of the present war, whenever he deems
that the public interests so require, to declare, by proclamation
to that effect, successive legal holidays throughout the State, or
in any one or more counties, cities, towns or villages thereof,
such successive legal holidays to extend over such period of time
as the exigency or emergency calling for the same shall, in the
judgment of the Governor, require.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That such days so pro-
claimed shall, in the locality or localities in. which the same
are proclaimed, be legal holidays, and shall be duly observed
therein as such, and shall for all purposes whatsoever as re-
gards the presenting for payment or acceptance and the pro-
testing and giving notice of dishonor of bills of exchange, bank
checks, drafts and promissory notes, be treated and considered
as the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and all
such bills, drafts, checks and notes presentable for payment or
acceptance on such days, or any of them, shall be deemed pre-
sentable on the secular or business day following the last day
so named in such proclamation.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency law and necessary for the imme-
diate preservation of the public safety, and being passed upon
a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the mem-