J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                        327

(g) All banks, trust companies, bankers, savings banks and insti-
tutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associa-
tions, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking
or investment business; all insurance companies, insurance associa-
tions, and other persons carrying on an insurance business; and all
executors, administrators, curators, trustees, and other fiduciaries,
may legally invest any sinking funds, monies, or other funds belong-
ing to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations
issued by the municipality pursuant to this sub-heading, provided
that such bonds and other obligations shall be secured by an agree-
ment between the issuer and the Federal Government in which the
issuer agrees to borrow from the Federal Government and the Fed-
eral Government agrees to lend to the issuer, prior to the maturity
of such bonds or other obligations, monies in an amount which
(together with any other monies irrevocably committed to the pay-
ment of principal and interest on such bonds or other obligations)
will suffice to pay the principal of such bonds or other obligations
with interest to maturity thereon, which monies under the terms of
said agreement are required to be used for the purpose of paying the
principal of and the interest on such bonds or other obligations at
their maturity. Such bonds and other obligations shall be authorized
security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this section to
authorize any persons, political subdivisions and officers, public or
private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them for the pur-
chase of any such bonds or other obligations. Nothing contained in
this section with regard to legal investments shall be construed as
relieving any person of any duty of exercising reasonable care in
selecting securities.

11. Separability

If any provision of this sub-heading, or the application thereof to
any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the sub-
heading and the application of such provision to persons or circum-
stances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be
affected thereby. The powers conferred by this sub-heading shall be
in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other
law.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1963.

Approved March 29, 1963.

CHAPTER 173
(Senate Bill 276)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 74 of
Article 16 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title
"Chancery", sub-title "Adoption", amending the law with regard to
the effect of the minority of a natural parent in adoption
proceedings.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 74 of Article 16 of the Annotated Code of Maryland