278 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 137

any, otherwise in a bank elsewhere paying such interest,
to the credit of the person entitled to such damages.

[(14)] (o) All benefits assessed under this section, less •
damages awarded shall be liens on the respective lots or
parcels benefited by the improvement from the time of
passage of the ordinance required in sub-division [two]
(c) of this section; provided, that if the proceedings are
discontinued for any reason the lien of such assessment
shall be void ab initio. Such assessments may be collected
as taxes are collected or by action of law.

[(15)] (p) Upon payment, or tender and deposit in
proper case, of all damages awarded, the title to the lands
condemned shall pass to the city, to have and to hold as
other lands are held for public purposes.

[(16)] (q) If the council shall fail to determine to pro-
ceed with the proposed improvement within the six months
mentioned in sub-division [(12)] (m) of this section, then
the proceedings shall be null and void ab initio. But if the
council shall determine to proceed with the proposed im-
provement within the said time, then the proceedings shall
be valid and binding, in spite of irregularities, defects and
errors therein, upon all persons and corporations men-
tioned in the notice required by sub-division [nine] (j) of
this section, who have not filed an appeal as provided in
sub-division [eleven] (l) of this section and upon all prop-
erty of such persons or corporation damaged, taken or
benefited by virtue of such proceedings, it being the inten-
tion of this sub-division to cure all defects in such pro-
ceedings as to all persons and corporations except ap-
pellants, mentioned in the said notice and as against all
attack except by appeal as provided, and in case the pro-
ceedings shall be held invalid as to an appellant they shall
not be considered as invalid except as to that appellant;
provided, that whenever any proceedings shall be held in-
valid as to any person, the city shall, as soon after such
holding as conveniently as may be, proceed to institute, as
to such persons, new proceedings, or to do whatever else
may be necessary, for the purpose of properly and fully
carrying into effect the plan of the improvements as laid
out in the ordinance required by sub-division [two] (c)
of this section.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall
take effect June 1, 1953.

Approved March 27, 1953.