THOMAS SWANN. ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR. 367

and their securities in all leases where the said claims accrued prior to the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and whether said claims be now in the form of judgment or otherwise, and for the purpose of closing all such cases the Comptroller is hereby fully authorized to compromise the same by abating the interest that has accrued or any portion thereof, or any part of the principal debt his discretion so as to best subserve the interest the State, and shall grant discharges to the said parties and their securities upon the payment into the Treasury of the amount required by him to be paid in settlement as aforesaid, provided
however that the Governor and Treasurer for the time being shall each approve in writing of any such abatement before the same shall be effective ; and provided further that no discharge or acquit- tance under this Act shall be effective unless the party or parties to be benefited by the same, shall first pay to the States' Attorney who shall have the case in hand the legal fees and also all fees of Clerks and Sheriffs.	Proviso.
Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the States' At- tornies shall when required render unto the Comp- troller all the assistance he may require in the adjustment and settlement of the aforesaid claims, and the said States' Attornies shall have power to examine evidence and take and certify to affida- vits as to the solvency of any official bond that may be in suit, or as to the solvency or insolvency of parties against whom fines and forfeitures were rendered in all cases where such fines and forfei- tures form part of the States' claim against the principal and securities on the bond aforesaid ; and the States' Attornies shall generally perform and do all other acts and things germain to the purpose of this Act that may be required in writing by the Comptroller as aforesaid and shall certify and re- turn to the Comptroller all the aforesaid evidences.	Render assist- ance.
Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That in all cases wherein the Comptroller shall require the States' Attornies to assist him in executing this Act, he shall allow them or any of them as compensation a commission of twenty per cent, on any State claim that he may collect or assist him, the Comp- troller, in collecting, and which said claim accrued	Compensa- tion.