THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 269

Article, to be known as Article 78 "Public Service Commis-
sion", and to repeal Sections 148, 152% and 153 of Article
81 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement),
title "Revenue and Taxes", sub-titles "Filing Fee to be Paid
by Foreign Corporations" and "Forfeiture of Corporate
Charters for Non-Payment of Taxes".

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, that Sections 1 to 135, inclusive, of Article 23 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition and 1947 Supple-
ment), title "Corporations", and all amendments thereto, and
Sections 148, 152½ and 153 of Article 81 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Revenue and
Taxes", sub-titles "Filing Fee to be Paid by Foreign Corpora-
tions" and "Forfeiture of Corporate Charters for Non-Pay-
ment of Taxes", be and the same are hereby repealed, and
that 134 new sections be and they are hereby enacted in lieu
thereof, to be known as Sections 1 to 127, inclusive, and 200
to 206, inclusive, of said Article 23, said new sections to read
as follows:

1. (Applicability. ) (a) Except as otherwise expressly pro-
vided by statute, the provisions of this Article shall apply to
all corporations existing on June 1, 1951, and all corporations
thereafter formed, and to all corporate acts done on or after
said date.

(b) Nothing in this Article shall be taken or construed as
affecting the existence of any corporation existing on June 1,
1951; as affecting or impairing the validity of any corporate
act done or performed prior to June 1, 1951 in conformity
with the law existing at the time of such act; as affecting or
impairing the validity of any corporate act done or per-
formed on or after June 1, 1951, if done or performed pursuant
to corporate action duly taken prior to said date in con-
formity with the law existing at the time of such action; or
as affecting or impairing the validity of any corporate act
done or performed within three years after June 1, 1951, if
done or performed pursuant to charter or by-law provisions
legally made prior to said date.

(c) In the event of any inconsistency between any of the
provisions of this Article and the rights conferred by any
valid special act of the General Assembly, the provisions of
said special act shall prevail to the extent of such inconsis-
tency; provided, however, that unless therein otherwise stated,
the provisions of this Article which are of general applicability
shall be available as an alternative to and not in substitution
for any inconsistent provision contained in any such special
act.