1G1S LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 678

providing for a referendum thereon at a special election
to be held in said County.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That five new sections be and they are hereby added to
Article 9 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland
(1930 Edition), title "Charles County, " sub-title "County
Commissioners, " said new sections to be known as Sections
84C-84G, inclusive, and to follow immediately after Sec-
tion 84B of said Article, as said Section 84B was amended
by Chapter 51 of the Acts of 1936 (Special Session), and
to read as follows:

84C. (a). Nothing contained in Article 27, Sections
288 to 307, inclusive, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1939 Edition), title "Crimes and Punishments, " sub-
title "Gaming, " shall be construed as prohibiting, penaliz-
ing or making unlawful the keeping, maintenance, opera-
tion or distribution for operation, in Charles County, by
any person or firm, on and after July 1, 1949, of any me-
chanical or electrical amusement devices which require the
insertion of a coin or token for their operation and which
offer an award to the operator based in whole or in part
upon chance or his skill, provided that said mechanical or
electrical amusement devices or machines are licensed by
the person or firm who owns or operates the premises upon
which said amusement devices are maintained for the use
of the public as hereinafter provided in this sub-title.
Provided, however, that any bona fide charitable or vet-
erans' organization and any bona fide fire company may
own and operate not more than five such devices for which
no license fee shall be required where all the proceeds of
such devices are devoted to the exclusive benefit of such
organization or company and such devices are maintained
solely in the club room or regular meeting place of such
organization or company. And provided further, that any
bona fide religious or volunteer fireman's organization may
operate on not more than two dates in any calendar year
up to ten such devices at any carnival or social where the
proceeds of such devices are devoted to the exclusive bene-
fit of such organizations.

(b). No person or firm shall be granted a license here-
under unless such person or persons comprising the firm
are shown affirmatively to be bona fide property owners
on July 1, 1949, or are registered voters in said County.

84D. (a). Any person or firm who owns or operates,
whether as owner, lessee or licensee, the premises upon