HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1243

child by eliminating the necessity for prosecution of said
offenses in the Circuit Court for the Counties of this State
and providing for the crime of desertion or wilfull neglect-
ing to provide for the support and maintenance of wife or
minor child and providing for the punishment thereof, pro-
viding for prosecution of such offenses in the Criminal
Court of Baltimore City of such offenses as occur in said
City and for prosecution before Justices of the Peace (ex-
cluding the Justices of the Peace in Baltimore City) in the
Counties of the State and conferring jurisdiction upon cer-
tain Justices of the Peace of the Counties and to provide
the method of procedure in such cases; providing that noth-
ing in this act shall be construed to interfere with any prose-
cution for any violation of this offense happening prior to
June 1, 1941, or on which prosecution may be pending prior
to June 1, 1941; and providing for the repeal of all Public
General or Public Local Acts inconsistent with this Act.

(Vetoed. )

CHAPTER 713.
(House Bill 843)

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 54 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1939 Edition), title "Land Office", sub-
title "Commissioner—His Powers and Duties", said new
section to be known as Section 47A, to follow immedi-
ately after Section 47 of said Article relating to the right
of a riparian owner to erect or extend a pier, wharf, dock
or similar construction without liability to the lessee of
an oyster bottom.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That a new section be and it is hereby added to Ar-
ticle 54 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition),
title "Land Office", sub-title "Commissioner—His Powers and
Duties", said new section to be known as Section 47A, to
follow immediately after Section 47 of said Article, and to
read as follows:

47A. On and after June 1, 1941, a riparian owner may
erect or extend a pier, wharf, dock or similar construction on
his property, without incurring any liability for damage
caused thereby to an oyster bottom or bed which was leased
on or after June 1, 1941.