HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 667

proceed to enforce payment thereof; and the said benefit charge
and any judgment or decree obtained as a result of default
in payment thereof shall bear interest at the rate of one-half
per centum per month from and after the time said benefit
assessment or other charges are in default. The annual benefit
assessment or other charges as above specified shall be a first
lien upon the property against which they are assessed until
paid, any statute of limitations to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, subject only to prior State and County taxes. And if any
property be sold for State or County taxes, or both, by the
Treasurer of said County, and if after sale there be a surplus
after all costs and expenses incident to such sale shall have
been paid; then the said Commission upon proper petition to
the Circuit Court for said County shall be allowed any balance
from said surplus, and shall be a preferred lienor to the extent
of its lien, and for the purpose of giving notice to the general
public as to existing liens and charges against any property
within any sub-district abutting upon any water or sewer
main, the said Commission shall keep a public record of all
names of owners of property, locations of said property, lot
numbers when of record, and the amount" of such benefit
charges, water service charges or such other charges that may
become liens from time to time. Said records shall be kept in
the county seat of government and among the land records of
Howard County, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court for said
County shall furnish such space as may be necessary to keep
and preserve such records, which, when published, in said pub-
lic record, shall be legal notice of all existing liens within any
sub-district. If any liens, benefit assessments or other charges
remain unpaid for sixty days after becoming due, they may
be collected by an action of assumpsit or by a bill in equity
to enforce such liens, and any judgment or decree obtained,
where the defendants have been served by summons or sub-
poena, or in any other manner provided by law, shall have
the force and effect of a judgment in personam; and the Com-
mission may sue, or file a bill in equity to enforce said liens
against the owner of record at the time said levy was made,
or the owner of record at the time said suit is filed or any
owner of record between, said dates, and publication thereon
shall be notice to all persons having any interest in said
property.

SEC, 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1945.

Approved April 5, 1945.