868 TALBOT COUNTY. [ART. 20.

173. The county commissioners shall apportion the said fund
among the several school districts in said county in such propor-
tions as in their discretion they shall deem just and reasonable,
and they shall pay semi-annually to the several teachers with
whom a contract shall have been made and confirmed, their
respective apportionments; Provided, each teacher, before re-
ceiving the same, shall produce a certificate from the trustees of
his school district that he is entitled thereto; and said trustees
may grant a certificate for services rendered during less than
half a year, should circumstances render it necessary.

174. All money paid by the county commissioners shall be by
a check drawn by the president of the board of commissioners
on the Bank of Easton, stating the fund in bank from which it
shall be paid, and the purposes for which it was drawn, and shall
be countersigned by the clerk to the commissioners.

175. Each teacher, in addition to the sum he shall be entitled
to receive under his contract and certificate from the county
commissioners, may be permitted to charge the parents and
guardians of each scholar such sum as the trustees of the district
may in their discretion allow; but the said trustees shall require
of each teacher, before receiving a certificate from them for his
distributive share of said school money, that he will relinquish or
refund any charge for the schooling of every child of such needy
persons as they shall designate to him.

176. Any resident in said county shall be privileged to place
his child or ward at any school in said county he may select.

177. The county commissioners of said county may, upon
petition in writing of a majority of the taxable inhabitants of
any school district, appoint three judicious and discreet commis-
sioners to examine into the state and condition of said school
district, and report such alteration or division of said district as
they shall deem advisable.

178 The report of said commissioners shall be subject to the
approval of the county commissioners, and they shall cause
notice to be given in one or more of the newspapers published
in eaid county for thirty days, of the intended ratification of said
report.