HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 295

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That Section 11 of Article 13 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1939 Edition), title "Bills of Exchange
and Promissory Notes", sub-title "Legal Holidays", be and
it is hereby repealed and re-enacted with amendments to
read as follows:

11. It shall be lawful for banks and bankers in the
State of Maryland to close their doors for business at
twelve o'clock noon on each and every Saturday in the
year, and every Saturday in the year after twelve o'clock
noon, shall, for all purposes whatever, so far as regards
the presenting for payment or acceptance and the pro-
testing and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of ex-
change, bank checks, drafts, promissory notes and other
negotiable paper, be a legal half-holiday, and shall be
treated and considered as the first day of the week, com-
monly called Sunday, and all such bills, checks, drafts and
notes, which, on their face, or under any existing law
shall be payable or presentable for acceptance or payment
on any half-holiday Saturday shall be deemed to be pay-
able or presentable for acceptance or payment, and notice
of protest and dishonor thereof may be given on the next
succeeding secular or business day; provided, that checks
and paper payable at sight, or on demand, presentable for
payment on half-holiday Saturday may, at the option of
the holder thereof, be payable and presentable for accept-
ance or payment on such half-holiday Saturday before
twelve o'clock noon; provided, further, that for the purpose
of protesting or otherwise holding liable any party to any
such check or paper payable at sight, or on demand, pre-
sentable for payment on any half-holiday Saturday, and
which shall have been presented and dishonored on such
half-holiday Saturday, notice of protest and dishonor
thereof may be given on the next succeeding secular or
business day; and provided further, that whenever any
person shall receive for collection any bill of exchange,
bank check, draft or promissory note due and presentable
for acceptance or payment on any half-holiday Saturday,
such person shall not be deemed guilty of any neglect or
omission of duty, or incur any liability in not presenting
for payment or acceptance, or collecting such bill of ex-
change, bank check, draft or promissory note on that day;
and provided further that in construing this section, every
half-holiday Saturday shall, until twelve o'clock noon, be
deemed as a secular or business day, provided, however,
that the provisions of this section shall not apply to Balti-
more, Caroline, Howard and Talbot Counties.