SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                       929

26-21. Rates for political advertising.

No person or corporation within the State, publishing a news-
paper or other periodical, shall charge a candidate for State or local
public office for political advertising a rate in excess of the regular
local rate regularly charged by such person or corporation for com-
mercial advertising except that when such political advertising is
placed with the person or corporation through the medium of an
advertising or press agency, then the regular national rate regularly
charged by such person or corporation for commercial advertising
may be charged.

26-22. Contribution by corporation prohibited.

It shall be unlawful and shall be deemed a corrupt practice for any
corporation, incorporated under the laws of Maryland or of any
state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia,
or of the United States, or of any other country directly or in-
directly, by itself, or through any officer, agent or employee, repre-
sentative, or other person whatsoever, to give, contribute, furnish,
lend or promise any money, property, transportation, means or aid
to any political party, or any candidate for public office, or for nomi-
nation thereto, or to any political, treasurer or subtreasurer, as
herein defined, either directly or indirectly, to aid, promote or in-
fluence the success or defeat of any political party or principle, or of
any measure or proposition submitted to a vote at a general election
in this State, or to aid, promote or influence in any manner the elec-
tion or defeat of a candidate therein, or to be used, applied, or
expended in any way whatever for political purposes. Any corpora-
tion, which shall violate any of the provisions of this section, and the
president or director, or other officer, or agent of such corporation,
who shall personally violate any of the provisions of this section,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a
fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each offense,
and imprisonment for not more than three years in jail or in the
house of correction.

26-23. Procedure on petition.

(a)    At any time within thirty days after any election held under
the laws of this State, any defeated candidate at such election, or
any ten duly qualified voters at such election, may present to the
circuit court of any county, or to the Superior Court of Baltimore
City, a petition setting forth under oath that corrupt practices,
contrary to the provisions of a specified section or sections of this
article, were committed by the successful candidate or candidates or
in the person of his or their agent or agents at or preliminary to such
election, within the county or city in which said petition was filed,
naming the successful candidate or candidates as defendants, and
praying that the fact alleged may be inquired into.

(b)    The court, upon the giving by the petitioners of such security
for costs as the court shall deem reasonable and upon such petition
and the affidavit or affidavits filed therewith, shall promptly order
such reasonable notice of such petition to be given to the defendant
or defendants, and require him or them, within as short at time as
may be reasonable, to answer, show cause, or otherwise defend as the
court may deem just and reasonable.