Chap. 66.—An ACT to amend section 2844 of the Code of Virginia. as hereto-
fore amended, in relation to public holidays. (Hi B 142]

Approved February 20, 1918.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That an
act to amend and re-enact section two thousand, eight hundred and
forty-four of the Code of Virginia, as heretofore amended, in rela-
tion to public holidays, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as
follows: ‘

Section 2844. Public holidays; when bills, notes and so forth,
otherwise presentable on any such holiday or on Saturday to be
presentable. (1) The first day of January, the ninteeenth day of
January (known as Lee-Jackson day), the twenty-second day of
February, the thirtieth day of May (Confederate memorial day).
the fourth day of July, the first Monday in September (known as
labor day), the Tuesday next following the first Monday in No-
vember (known as election day), the twenty-fifth day of December,
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
fasting and prayer, or other religious observances. or designated by
the governor as desirable to be observed as a holiday because of con-
ditions incident to a state of war, are hereby designated and estab-
lished, and shall be considered as public holidays, and every Satur-
day after twelve o’clock noon is hereby designated and established.
and shall be considered a half-holiday as to the transaction of all
business, except as to maturity, the presentment for acceptance or
payment and the protesting of negotiable instruments, as hereinafter
provided. Whenever the first day of January, the nineteenth day of
January, the twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of
Mav, the fourth day of July, or the twenty-fifth day of December
shall fall on a Sunday, the Monday following shall be a public holt-
day, with the same effect as if the days above named, respectively.
had fallen on the said Monday; provided, however, that no con-
tract made, instrument enacted, or act done on any of said public
holidays, or on any Saturday, whether before or after twelve o’clock
noon, shall be thereby rendered invalid, and that nothing in this act
contained shall be construed to prevent or invalidate the entry, is-
suance, service or execution of any writ. summons, confession, judg-
ment, order or decree, or other legal process whatever, or the session
of the procedings of any court or judge on any of the said public
holidays or Saturdays, either before or after twelve o’clock noon:
nor to prevent any bank, banker, banking corporation, firm or as.
sociation from keeping their doors open and transacting any lawful
business on any of the said public holidays or Saturdays.

2. An emergency existing. this act shall be in force from its
passage.