Chap. 397.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 2844 of the code of Vir-
ginia as amended and re-enacted by an act entitled an act to amend section
2844 of the code of Virginia, in relation to public holidays, approved Febru-
ary 28, 1890, as amended and re-enacted by an act entitled an act to amend
and re-enact section 2844 of the code of Virginia as amended and re-enacted
by an act to amend section 2844 of the code of Virginia, in relation to public
holidays, approved February 5, 1892.

Approved February 19, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
twenty-eight hundred and forty-four of the code of Virginia as
amended and re-enacted by an act entitled an act to amend section
twenty-eight hundred and forty-four of the code of Virginia, in rela-
tion to public holidays, approved February twenty-eighth, eighteen
hundred and ninety, as amended and re-enacted by an act entitled
an act to amend and re-enact section twenty-eight hundred and
forty-four of the code of Virginia as amended and re-enacted by an
act entitled an act toamend section twenty-eight hundred and forty-
four of the code of Virginia, in relation to public holidays, approved
February fifth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, be amended and
re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 2844. The first day of January, the nineteenth day of January
(known as Lee’s birthday), the twenty-second day of February, the
fourth day of July, the first Monday in September (known as labor
day), the twenty-fifth day of December, every Saturday from twelve
o'clock noon until twelve o’clock midnight, each of which Saturdays
is hereby designated a half-holiday, and any day appointed or
recommended by the governor of this state or the president of the
United States as a day of thanksgiving or of fasting and prayer, or
other religious observance, shall, for all purposes whatever, as
regards the presenting for payment or acceptance and of protesting
and giving notice of the dishonor of any bill of exchange, draft,
check, promissory note, or other negotiable instrument made on and
after May first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, be considered and
treated as a Sunday and as public holidays and half-holidays, and
all such bills of exchange, drafts, checks, promissory notes, or other
negotiable instruments otherwise presentable for payment or accept-
ance on any of the said holidays or on a Sunday, shall be deemed
to be payable and be presentable for payment or acceptance on the
secular or business day next succeeding such holiday or Sunday, or
in case of a half-holiday, be deemed to be payable and presentable
for payment or acceptance at or before twelve o’clock noon of such
half-holiday: provided, however, that for the purpose of protesting
or otherwise holding liable any party to any bill of exchange, draft,
check, promissory note, or other negotiable instrument, and which
shall not have been paid before twelve o’clock noon of any Saturday
designated a half-holiday as aforesaid, a demand of payment or
acceptance thereof may be made at any time on Saturday after
twelve o’clock noon, and notice of protest or dishonor thereof may
be given on the next succeeding secular or business day with the
like effect as if it had been given on said Saturday; and provided,
further, that when any person, firm, corporation or company
shall, on any Saturday designated a half-holiday, receive for col-
lection any bill of exchange, draft, check, promissory note, or
other negotiable instrument, such person, firm, corporation or
company shall not be deemed guilty of any neglect or omission
of duty, nor incur any liability in not presenting for payment
or acceptance or collecting such bill of exchange, draft, check,
promissory note, or other negotiable instrument on that day; and
provided, further, that in construing this section every Saturday
designated a half-holiday shall, until twelve o’clock noon, be deemed
a secular or business day, and the days and half-days so designated
as holidays and half-holidays shall be considered as public holidays
and half-holidays for all purposes whatsoever as regards the transac-
tion of business; and provided, further, that nothing herein con-
tained shall be construed to prevent or invalidate the entry, issu-
ance, service, or execution of any writ, summons, confession of
judgment, or other legal process whatever, on any of the Saturday
afternoons herein designated as half-holidays, nor to prevent any
bank from keeping its doors open or transacting its business on any
of the said Saturday afternoons if by a vote of its directors it elects
to do so.

2. Whenever the first day of January, the nineteenth day of
January, the twenty-second day of February, the fourth day of July,
or the twenty-fifth day of December shall fall on a Sunday the
Monday next following shall be deemed a public holiday for any
and all the purposes aforesaid, and in that case every bill of ex-
change, draft, check, promissory note, or other negotiable instru-
ment made on and after May first, eighteen hundred and ninety-
six, which would otherwise be presentable for payment or acceptance
on the said Monday, shall be deemed to be presentable for payment
or acceptance on the secular or business day next succeeding.

3. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby re-
pealed.

4, This act shall be in force on and after May first, eighteen hun-
dred and ninety-six.