1512 LAWS OF MARYLAND, [CH. 716

SEC. 4. 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 health and safety, and being
passed upon a yea and nay vote, supported by three-fifths of
all of 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 May 17, 1939.

CHAPTER 716.
(House Bill 119)

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1924 Edition), title "Crimes and Pun-
ishments", sub-title "Gaming", said new section to be known
as Section 257A and to follow immediately after Section 257
of said Article, making it lawful to operate the game of
bingo in Baltimore City under certain conditions.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That a new section be and it is hereby added to Article
27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1924 Edition), title
"Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Gaming", said new sec-
tion to be known as Section 257A, to follow immediately after
Section 257 of said Article, and to read as follows:

257A. Nothing in this sub-title shall be construed to make
it unlawful for any person, organization or corporation to
operate or conduct the game of bingo where prizes of mer-
chandise only are given and where no prize of a greater value
than ten dollars ($10. 00) is offered or given in any one game
and where the entire net proceeds are devoted to charitable
purposes exclusively. Before the game of Bingo may be played
in Baltimore City, it shall be necessary to obtain a permit for
same after application shall have been made to the Police
Commissioner of said City, and when the said Police Commis-
sioner issues said permit, he shall receive a fee of fifty cents
(50c) to cover the cost of the issuance of said permit; pro-
vided, however, that no such permits shall be issued for the
playing of the game of Bingo in any regular restaurant or
tavern where alcoholic beverages are sold or in any permanent
place of amusement or entertainment. Provided, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed to permit the playing of
said games on Sunday; and provided further that the pro-
visions of this Section shall apply only to Baltimore City.