LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1826.

897

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That nothing herein contained
shall in any way affect the right of the state to moneys duo to
said state and which have accrued under the provisions of the
act hereby repealed, but that the said act shall remain in force
for the collection thereof, and be proceeded under for that pur-
pose to final judgment and execution, as if this act had never
passed.

CHAPTER 247.

AN ACT to regulate the Fees of certain Officers.
Other laws relating to officers' fees are, 1831, ch. 99; 1832, ch; 817;
1833, ch. 173, 181, 258 ; 1834, ch, 180, 192, 570; 1835, ch. 201, 212; 1836,
ch. 73, 155; 1837, ch. 112.

State's
right to
moneys duo
not affected.

WHEREAS, the provisions of the existing laws of this state in
relation to officers' fees, are, in many respects, so vague and in-
definite, as to be susceptible of various interpretations, and very
different constructions, with respect to the purport, true intent
and meaning thereof, by many of those officers whose fees were
thereby intended to have been regulated and determined ; and
to this cause may be chiefly ascribed the discordant practices
that have so long prevailed, with different public officers, in re-
gard to the particular manner of charging their office fees, and
the variance in the measure of compensation to which they have
respectively conceived themselves legally entitled, for the per-
formance of official duties of a like and similar kind : And
whereas it is important that the laws of the state should, in all
cases, be rendered so clear, comprehensive and certain, by a pre-
cise and explicit phraseology in their formation, as to preclude
all doubt, misconception or diversity of opinion, respecting the
true meaning and intention of the legislature, and to insure, in
their operation and effect on the community, a just equality,
and impartial uniformity; and for the purpose of remedying and
preventing in future, certain practices that may doubtless have
resulted from pure motives and a conscientious interpretation of
said laws, but which are nevertheless much complained of ; and
of promoting the desirable and beneficial objects stated in the
title and preamble hereof; therefore,

Preamble.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That from and after the first day of June next, the following
fees shall be limited and allowed to the several and respective
public officers herein after mentioned, and no officer or officers
herein after named, his or their ministers, deputies or servants,
by reason or colour of his or their office or offices, shall presume
to charge, demand, ask, receive or take, of any person or per-
sons, directly or indirectly, any other or greater fees, which shall
arise or become due for the performance of the duties of his or
113

Fees allow-
ed public
officers —
penalty for
receiving
more, &c.