representatives confirmed by the testimony on oath
of at least two disinterested witnesses.

Forms when
filled up to be
copied in al-
phabetical or-
der.

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That the original
blank forms or tabular statements when so filled
and attested, shall be by said Commissioners
copied in alphabetical order and indexed into suit-
able books of record, to be procured and furnish-
ed by the said Commissioners at their own cost
and expense, which books of record together with
all the original papers therein copied, shall be de-
posited with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each
of the counties, and with the Clerk of the Superior
Court of Baltimore city, and shall be by them
preserved among the public records of the counties
and city respectively aforesaid; and said books of
record and papers when so preserved shall be and
they are hereby declared to be legal evidence upon
all questions concerning the ownership of slaves in
this State at the time of the adoption of the Con-
stitution by which said slaves were emancipated.

Compensa-
tion for ser-
vices.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted. That the said
Commissioners for the performance of the duties
prescribed in this Act, shall be entitled to charge
and receive the sum of twenty-five cents per capita,
for each and every slave by him recorded as so
formerly owned, to be paid in all cases by the
former owner or owners, and no compensation or
charge of any kind whatever, under the provisions
of this Act. shall be paid out of the State Treas-
ury.

Limited.

Sec. 6. And be it enacted; That the aforesaid
Commissioners shall perform the duties of their
respective offices within twelve months from the
date of the appointment and qualification, and

In force.

that this Act shall take effect from the date of its
passage.