THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 471

inclusive, and to follow immediately after Section 175 of
said Article, be and they are hereby enacted in lieu there-
of, to read as follows:

176. (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, penalizing
or making unlawful the keeping, maintenance, operation
or distribution for operation, in Calvert County, by any
person, firm or corporation, on and after July 1, 1948, of
any mechanical or electrical amusement devices which re-
quire 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 of his skill, provided that said
mechanical or electrical amusement devices or machines
are licensed by the person, firm or corporation who owns
or operates the premises upon which said amusement de-
vices are maintained for the use of the public as herein-
after provided in this sub-title. Provided, however, that
any bona fide charitable or veterans organization and any
bona fide fire company may own and operate not more than
four 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.

(b) No person, firm or corporation shall be granted a
license hereunder unless such person or persons compris-
ing the firm, or in the case of a corporation, the majority
of the voting stockholders, are shown affirmatively to be
bona fide property owners on July 1, 1948, or are regis-
tered voters in said County.

177. (a) Any person, firm or corporation who owns
or operates, whether as owner, lessee or licensee, the prem-
ises upon which it is desired to maintain any amusement de-
vices described in Sub-section (a) of Section 176, hereof,
may obtain a license therefor upon application to the Clerk
of the Circuit Court of the County upon forms prescribed
for that purpose by the said clerk and upon payment of
the prescribed annual license fee of $150. 00 for each such
machine not exceeding four. If the applicant wishes to
maintain and operate more than four such machines on the
same premises, he shall also secure the distributors license
of $1, 000. 00, in addition to the $150. 00 fee for each ma-
chine.