HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 75

from actual or threatened armed invasion or insurrection, and
may alleviate their suffering resulting from fire, flood, disaster
or epidemic of disease, or other such emergencies. The said
Commissioners are authorized to enact ordinance or ordi-
nances, rules and regulations to protect the citizens of Mont-
gomery County during blackout, practice air raid alarms, air
raids, and invasion, All acts done and all monies expended
by said County Commissioners for such purposes, either here-
tofore or hereafter, or for the purpose of providing for defense
because of the war between the United States and Germany,
Italy and Japan, including the purchase of equipment for
Civilian Defense organization and maintenance, the employ-
ment of administrative and technical aid in the interest of
Civilian Defense, the purchase of medical supplies for casualty
stations, and the purchase of arms, ammunition and providing
and furnishing of telephone service and other service and
supplies to the Maryland Minute Men and other military
organizations within Montgomery County are hereby ratified
and confirmed as just and lawful acts of the said County
Commissioners.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That in order to further
carry out the provisions of this Act the said County Commis-
sioners are hereby authorized and empowered, at any time,
or from time to time, to borrow on the faith and credit of
Montgomery County such sum or sums of money or other
article or articles of value in an amount or amounts not to
exceed the appropriations made under the foregoing sections
of this Act; such borrowing may be made by public or private
sale of certificates of indebtedness, or other evidence of debt,
or by direct negotiation with any State or National Banking
Institution or Institutions or other lending agency. The said
Commissioners are further authorized and empowered to issue
certificates of indebtedness or promissory notes in such de-
nominations and such amounts, and at such interest rate or
rates and for such period not exceeding two years as the said
County Commissioners may by resolution determine. Such
certificates of indebtedness or promissory notes to be executed
by the President of the Board of County Commissioners of
Montgomery County and attested by the Clerk to said Board.
Such promissory notes or certificates of indebtedness may be
renewed or reissued at any time or from time to time or may
be funded by an issue of serial bonds having an average matur-
ity of not more than ten years from the date of issue thereof.
The bonds, certificates of indebtedness, promissory notes, or
other evidences of debt issued under the provisions of this
Act shall be specifically exempted from the provisions of Sec-
tions 31, 32 and 33 of Article 31 of the Code of Public General