ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 339

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this act is hereby de-
clared to be an emergency law and necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public safety, and being passed upon the
yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members
elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, the
same shall/take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved March 25, 1927.

CHAPTER 191.

AN ACT to provide for the payment by the County Commis-
sioners of Montgomery 'County, Maryland, to certain volun-
teer fire companies in Montgomery County, Maryland, so
long as said fire companies remain incorporated bodies and
active fire-fighting organizations, the sum of five hundred
dollars ($500. 00) annually for each piece of fire-fighting
apparatus having a pump or chemical tank, said money to be
used for maintenance and equipment of the several said
departments, and to levy said necessary amount on the assess-
able property of said County, and to provide for the date on
which said payment shall be made.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the County Commissioner of Montgomery County
be and they are hereby authorized, empowered and directed
to pay the sum of five hundred dollars ($500. 00) annually to
the several volunteer fire companies for each piece of fire-
fighting apparatus it maintains in efficient operating condition,
said sum of money to be used by the respective fire companies
for the purchase, repair and maintenance of fire-fighting
equipment. No such payment shall be made unless the fire-
fighting apparatus shall be equipped with a pump or with chem-
ical tanks. No volunteer fire-fighting company shall receive
any benefits under this Act unless it has more than one thous-
and (1, 000) feet of standard hose.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That said payment shall be
made on the first day of September in each and every year
by the County Commissioners of Montgomery County.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the County Com-
missioners of Montgomery County be and the same are hereby
authorized, empowered and directed to levy whatever sum