HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 509

either prior to or after retirement, except as hereinafter
provided. Contributions to the fund shall be maintained
during the active service of such member and shall be
terminated upon his death or retirement. Members shall
forfeit all claims to benefits if they leave the Department
for any cause prior to death or retirement.

Participation in this feature of the Special Fund for
Widows shall be optional, but for the purpose of providing
revenue to meet the obligations incurred, the additional
contributions hereinbefore referred to shall be effective
June 1st, 1939, deductions to be made from salaries and
shown on the payrolls of the Police Department of Balti-
more City, but the payment of pensions as herein pro-
vided, even though a member may die between the period
of June 1st and December 31st, 1939, shall not become
effective until January 1st, 1940, and then shall be made
in the manner as now provided by law for the payment of
pensions to retired members of the Department.

943B. Members of the Police Department of Baltimore
City who may be appointed after June 1st, 1939, and
become members of the Special Fund, may participate in
the benefits of the Special Fund for Widows, provided
eligibility to do so is established within thirty (30) days
after appointment and not otherwise.

In the event a widow, to whom a pension allowance would
be paid in accordance with the provisions of Section 943A,
is appointed to any position in the Police Department of
Baltimore City, the pension allowance shall be suspended
during the period of employment, and if such member is
retired on a pension, the provisions of Section 943A and
943B shall not be applicable.

The pension allowance to the widow or for the benefit
of minor children shall be one-quarter (¼) of the base
salary of the grade or position of the deceased member,
said benefits to be paid to the widow (or children as above
provided), conditioned, however, that the provisions of Sec-
tions 943A and 943B shall not apply to a widow unless she
shall have been married to a deceased member for at least
five years preceding his death, and shall not apply to
widows of members whose marriage occurred subsequent
to retirement.

Nothing in Sections 943A and 943B shall be construed
to be in conflict with the provisions of Section 943 of this
Article.

All revenue derived in accordance with the terms of
Section 943A shall be kept in a separate and distinct fund
to be known as the Special Fund for Widows, and shall be