LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1831.

1065

the benefit of said laws, notwithstanding his having failed to

obtain a final discharge as aforesaid ; Provided, the said commis-
sioners be first satisfied before acting on his second application,
that the failure to obtain his final discharge as aforesaid, did not
proceed from unfair and fraudulent purposes ; and the said ap-

Provided
there be no
implication
of fraud.

plicant shall answer on oath, before he obtained his personal
discharge on said second application, all the interrogatories
which may have been filed against him on his previous ap-
plication, and at the same time, such other interrogatories as
may be filed against him on his second application.

Answer
upon oath.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the final appearance of every
insolvent debtor, applying after the first day of April next, to
the said commissioners of insolvent debtors for the benefit of
the insolvent laws of Maryland, shall take place and be made

Final ap-
pearance
shall be be-
fore the
commis-
sioners.

before the said commissioners, instead of being before Baltimore
county court, at such period as is now lawful in that behalf, to
be assigned for such appearance before Baltimore county court;
and the said commissioners shall have the same power and dis-
cretion of extending and changing the time for such final ap-

Instead of
county,
court.

pearance as is now vested in said court, and under the same
limitations, and to the same effect and operation to every intent
and purpose.

Powers
vested.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That if on such final appearance
or the final hearing of such insolvent debtor, before said com-
missioners, it shall appear to said commissioners, that the debtor
has complied xvith the terms and conditions of the insolvent
laws, and acted fairly and bona fide, it shall be the duty of the
said commissioners to grant him a final discharge in the same
manner and to the same effect, as is now allowed to Baltimore
county court, and it shall be their duty to decide unfavourably

Commis-
sioners au-
thorized to
grant final
discharge.

on the case of such debtor, and to refuse said discharge, if he
shall not have complied as aforesaid, or have acted as aforesaid,
and said discharge or unfavourable decision shall be certified
by such person as said commissioners shall appoint their clerk,
who shall have and use a seal of office, such as said commis-
sioners shall direct; and the certificate.of said clerk, under said
seal of any acts or proceedings of said commissioners, and of

Duty to re-
fuse such
discharge.
Certificate
of deciaion.

Seal au-
thorized.

copies of any papers in any case of an insolvent debtor, or in
the office of said commissioners, shall be as valid and effectual
as the certificate under seal of the clerk of Baltimore county

Copy made
evidence.

court now is, in like cases, and the said commissioners shall,
notwithstanding the authority hereby granted them, in respect
of such final discharge, report and return to Baltimore county
court, after such final discharge or unfavourable decision as
aforesaid, all their proceedings and the papers in the case of
the insolvent debtor, as such proceedings and papers are now
required to be reported and returned, the said clerk of said com-
134

Commis-
sioners
shall report
proceedings
to the coun-
ty court.