242                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 165

based upon the State and county assessments on all real and personal
property as the needs of the town may require. Provided however,
that the Mayor and Common Council shall have the power by ordi-
nance to exempt not exceeding $500.00 of household goods of each
person from taxation. Such tax shall be in default after the first day
of October of each year and shall thereafter bear interest at one per
centum (1%) per month until paid. The Treasurer of said town shall
calculate the amount of taxes due by each person and shall render
a bill to the address given on such lists of assessments either by
depositing the same in the mail or otherwise, or if the address of
any such person is unknown, to the best address ascertainable. All
taxes on real estate not paid by the first day of March next succeed-
ing their levy shall be collected in the following manner: The Treas-
urer shall make up a list of the unpaid taxes, and shall advertise the
same in some newspaper published in Prince George's County, once
in each of three successive weeks, and give notice in said advertise-
ment that on a day to be named therein not later than one month from
the date of the first insertion therein, he will sell the properties
therein named to the highest bidder for cash. Such notice shall set
out the name or names of the respective owners of real estate, a
brief description of the location of the property, and the amount of
taxes, interest, penalties and costs for which the same is liable.
Each piece of real estate so in default shall bear a charge of $2.50
to cover the costs of advertising, and to cover the cost of verifying
the names of the owners of such real estate in the Land Records of
the county, which shall be a lien on the real estate, and collected as
other town taxes are collected, and with the same interest and penal-
ties.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the effectiveness of this
Act shall be subject to the requirement of Section 5 of Article 11E
of the Constitution of Maryland that no such local law shall become
effective in regard to a municipal corporation until and unless it
shall have been approved at a regular or special municipal election
by a majority of the voters of that municipal corporation voting on
the question.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby declared
to be an emergency measure and necessary for the immediate pres-
ervation of the public health and safety and having been passed by
a yea and nay vote, supported by three-fifths of all the members
elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly of Mary-
land, the same shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved March 29,1955.

CHAPTER 165

(House Bill 508)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 717 of
the Code of Public Local Laws of Prince George's County (1953

EXPLANATION: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.