JOHN WALTER SMITH, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

WHEREAS, It is important that said claims shall be ener-
getically prosecuted to a settlement; therefore,

441

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the Governor be and he is hereby authorized and
directed to appoint some suitable person or persons to act as
the agent or agents of the State of Maryland in the prosecu-
tion of all its claims against the government of the United
States, existing prior to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-
eight, and by written agreement to fix the terms of such em-
ployment, the rate of compensation to be paid the said agent
or agents for all their services, work and expenses in connec-

Governor

shall appoint
agent or
agents.

tion with such agency; provided, said agent or agents will
accept therefor a contingency of such portion of the moneys
actually collected from the government of the United States
and paid by it into the Treasury of Maryland, as may be agreed
upon with the Governor, not exceeding thirty per cent, thereof,
the same to be a full compensation for work, services and
expenses of all and every kind whatsover, and no other com-
pensation shall be received from the State therefor.

Compensation

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That in case the said agent or
agents or their successors for any reason discontinue or are
unable to go on with the work of such agency, then the Gov-
ernor shall from time to time, and as often as may be necessary,
appoint another or other agent or agents, so that such agency
may be kept alive, and fix by agreement in writing the terms
of such employment, with due consideration for the equities
of the preceding agent or agents not exceeding in the aggre-
gate for all agents appointed hereunder the rate of compensa-
tion hereinbefore fixed for the original appointment, and should
any controversy arise between appointees hereunder as to the
division of the compensation to which they or either may be
entitled the decision and award of the Governor with reference
thereto shall be final.

Shall appoint
other agents
in case of
vacancy.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That when the government of the
United States has paid any sum or sums into the Treasury of
this State in settlement, or on account of the claim or claims
hereinbefore mentioned, the Comptroller, upon the order of
the Governor, shall draw his warrant upon the Treasurer in
favor of the agent or agents aforesaid, or their successors, or
the representatives of either of them for such sum or sums as
the Governor may direct, not exceeding in the aggregate the
rate hereinbefore fixed.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That this Act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.
Approved April 5, 1900.

When agents
shall be paid.