272 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 159

If any item of any appropriation bill passed under the pro-
visions of this Section shall be held invalid upon any ground,
such invalidity shall not affect the legality of the Bill or of
any other item of such Bill or Bills.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That
the said foregoing Section hereby proposed as an amendment
to the Constitution shall at the next ensuing general election
being the presidential and congressional election, to be held on
the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, nine-
teen hundred and sixteen, be submitted to the legal and quali-
fied voters of the State for their adoption or rejection in con-
formity with the directions contained in Article XIV of the
Constitution of this State, and at the said election the vote on
said proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be by bal-
lot, and upon each ballot there shall be placed the following
synopsis of said amendment under the caption of

"CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING
FOR A BUDGET. "

"This amendment provides that the Governor shall present
to the Legislature soon after it is convened a Budget giving
a complete plan of proposed expenditures and estimated reve-
nues for the two succeeding fiscal years showing clearly any
surplus or deficit in State funds. In these estimates he shall
make provision for the interest and sinking funds of all State
debts, for all salaries as fixed by law, and for the public schools
as fixed by law. With regard to most other matters he may
revise the estimates presented to him either by State officers
or State-aided institutions. The Legislature may not increase
the estimates presented by the Governor or pass any additional
appropriation act except by a majority vote and must make
provision by tax for such increase or additional appropriation.
The Legislature may not alter in an appropriation act the pro-
vision made by law for the State debt, or for the
judiciary, but may reduce all other items in the Governor's
estimates; " and the words "For the Constitutional Amend-
ment" and "Against the Constitutional Amendment, " as now
provided by law, and immediately after said election due re-
turns shall be made to the Governor of the vote for and against
the proposed amendment, and further proceedings had in ac-
cordance with Article XIV of the Constitution.

Approved March 28th, 1916.