Telegraf. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1909-1951, 1943-08-13
CHAPTER 8

AN ACT making it a misdemeanor for
certain persons not to work or fight
during the period of the present
emergency, and to provide criminal
penalties therefor.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Gen.
eral Assembly Of Maryland, That every
~able-bodied, sane male person between
the ages of 16 and so, residing in the
Counties of Caroline, st. Mary's, Somer-
set, Kent, Worcester, Wicomico, Anne
Dorchester, Talbot, Baltimore and
Queen Anne, who is not in the armed
forces of the United States, or who has
not received his notice to report for in
duction into such forces, or who is not
on duty as a member of the Maryland
State Guard, or who is not a BONA fde
student in a school Or other educational
institution in this State or elsewhere,
whether able to support himself by rea-
son of ownership of property or income
or whether supported by others, who is
not actually working in some business,
occupation, trade or profession, and
who refuses to accept at prevailing
wages an offer of employment for which
he is physically qualified in the County
where he resides, shall be guilty of a
OF before a Trial Magistrate of the
County in which such person resides,
shall be lined not more than Five Hun
dred Dollars ($5OO.O0), or be impris-
oned not more than six (6) months, or
be both fined and imprisoned, in the
discretion of said Trial Magistrate.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted.
That this Act shall not apply to any
person who actually works five % days
in each week, or on such less number of
days in each week hat employment by
his employer is available, nor shall it
apply to any person while on any yaca-
ton granted by his employer, nor to
bona fd teachers or duly ordained
ministers of the gospel.
Sec. 3. And be 1t further enacted.
That any and all appeals under this
Act, and any case in which a jury trial
be demanded, shall be heard by the
Circuit Court for the County in which
such appeal is noted, or in which such
C5) days after such appeal or demand.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted.
h this Act shall be in effect during
the continuance of the existing state of
war between the United States and
Germany, Japan and Italy, and during
any p%rolongation thereof, or with any
OF such nations and/or with any other
foreign country, and shall be termin-
ated by the signing of a treaty Of
peace, or by a proclamation Of the Pres
1dent of the United States or the Cover
nor of the State that hostilities have
ceased, or that the emergency no longer
exists, whichever event first occurs:
provided. however, that this Act shall
cease TO De In erect upon the adoption
at any time by the General Assembly of
Maryland of a Joint Resolution stating
that 1t is no longer necessary for the
public good and safety Of the State and
terminating the same; and provided
further, that the expiration, repeal or
termination of this Act shall not have
the effect of releasing or extinguishing
any penalty, forfeiture or liability in
Cured hereunder prior to the date of
such expiration, repeal or termination,
and this Act shall be treated as re-
naming in full force and effect for the
purpose Of sustaining any and all prior
actions. suits, proceedings Or prOsecu-
tions, civil or criminal, for the enforce
ment of any penalty, forfeiture or liza
bll1ty provided herein.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted.
That this Act is hereby declared to be
an emergency law and necessary for
the immediate preservation of the pub
lie health and safety, and being passed
upon a yea and nay vote, supported by
three-ffths of all the members elected
to each of the two Houses of the Cen
eral Assembly, the same shall take eff
feet from the date of it's passage.
Approved: April 1, 1913.