72                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 53

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the immediate preservation
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, the same shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 10, 1973.

CHAPTER 54
(House Bill 51)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 9 of Article 13 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Supplement), title "Bills of Exchange and
Promissory Notes," subtitle "Legal Holidays," to have the Governor proclaim
April 13 as John Hanson's Birthday and to dedicate that day to the memory of
John Hanson.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 9 of Article 13 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1972 Supplement), title "Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes," subtitle
"Legal Holidays," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments,
to read as follows:

9.

The following days in each and every year, namely the first day of January,
commonly called "New Year's Day"; the 12th day of February, known as
"Lincoln's Birthday"; the third Monday in February, known as "Washington's
Birthday"; the 25th day of March known as "Maryland Day"; "Good Friday"; the
first Monday in September, commonly called "Labor Day"; the last Monday in
May, commonly called "Memorial Day"; the 4th day of July, called
"Independence Day"; the 12th day of September, known as "Defenders' Day"; the
second Monday in October, known as "Columbus Day"; the fourth Monday in
October, known as "Veterans' Day"; the fourth Thursday in November, known as
"Thanksgiving Day"; the 25th day of December, called "Christmas Day"; and all
days of general and congressional elections throughout the State and all special
days that may be appointed or recommended by the State and on special days that
may be appointed or recommended by the Governor of this State, or the President
of the United States, as days of thanksgiving or fasting and prayer, or other
religious observance or for the general cessation of business, shall be regarded as
legal holidays, and shall be duly observed as such, and shall for all purposes
whatsoever as regards the presenting for payment or acceptance and of the
protesting and giving notice of dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks, drafts
and promissory notes, to be treated and considered as the first day of the week,
commonly called Sunday, and all such bills, drafts, checks, and notes presented for
payment or acceptance on these said, days, shall be deemed to be presented for
acceptance or payment on the secular or business day next succeeding such
holiday. The 15th day of January of each and every year shall be proclaimed by
the Governor as "Martin Luther King Day" and shall be a day of prayer in honor
of Martin Luther King. THE 13TH DAY OF APRIL OF EACH AND EVERY
YEAR SHALL BE PROCLAIMED BY THE GOVERNOR AS "JOHN
HANSON'S BIRTHDAY" AND BE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE STATESMAN, JOHN HANSON. The Governor of this State shall have