478 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 429

Common Council of Westminster to operate said water sys-
tem; to levy such taxes as may become necessary for the
proper maintenance and operation of the said water system;
to meet the interest charges on whatever bonds may be out-
standing against the said water system and to retire the
same at maturity and to meet the interest charges on what-
ever bonds may be issued under this Act and to retire the
same at maturity; to pass ordinances, adopt resolutions and
promulgate rules and regulations appropriate to the opera-
tion and financing of the said water system; to provide that
all bonds which may be issued under this Act shall be free
of all City, County and State taxes; and to provide for a
referendum vote of the qualified voters of The Mayor and
Common Council of Westminster on the question—"Whether
or not The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster shall
acquire from The Maryland Water Works Company the
water system, located in the Seventh Election District of
Carroll County", and specifically exempting this Act, and the
bonds issued thereunder, from the provisions of Sections
33-36, inclusive, of Article 31 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1939 Edition).

WHEREAS, The Maryland Water Works Company is con-
trolled by holding companies which are now in litigation in
proceedings before the Securities & Exchange Commission en-
titled "United States of America before the Securities &
Exchange Commission", File No. 70-455, under which proceed-
ings it may become necessary that those in control of the said
The Maryland Water Works Company to dispose of their said
holdings; in which event it may, in the opinion of The Mayor
and Common Council of Westminster, become advantageous
for it to own and control said water system situate in said
Seventh Election District of Carroll County, Maryland; there-
fore

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster
be and it hereby is authorized and empowered to acquire and
take over by purchase or condemnation a water system located
in the Seventh Election District of Carroll County, which
system is the property of The Maryland Water Works Com-
pany, its successors and assigns, and which said system in-
cludes real and personal property, rights, privileges, waters,
streams, waterways, water courses, reservoirs, easements, facil-
ities and franchises; and if the said water system shall be so
acquired by condemnation, such condemnation proceedings
shall be had in accordance with the provisions of Section 394
of Article 43 of the Code of Public General Laws of Maryland
and Article 33A of said Code of Public General Laws.