vii

missions of Trustees and Receivers, Excess of Officers' Fees,
&c.

The entire amount received from these sources during the
fiscal year was $295,629.78, an increase of $32,276.08, over
the aggregate receipts, on these accounts, in the preceding
fiscal year.

It will be observed that this increase is derived principally
from Licenses issued to Ordinary Keepers and Traders, under
the "New License Act." This law passed by the Legisla-
ture at their recent session, contains an admirable provision
by which the oath of the applicant is made the guide of the
Clerk in granting the License.

In some respects, however, the Act is defective: there is
no penalty attached to its violation, unless the penalties of
former laws apply, and they will be found inadequate; some
portions of it are also inconsistent with others, and this has
occasioned much difficulty in its execution.

The attention of the next Legislature will be called to this
subject, and the recommendation of my predecessor renewed,
for the passage of a general law embracing the whole License
system. Such a law, extending to many new branches of
business, would justify a reduction in the present rates, with
out diminishing the revenue.

The discharge of their duties, in connection with this De-
partment, by the various Clerks of Courts, has been highly
creditable, with, but few exceptions.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Caroline County, and
the Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County, are in
default. The Clerk last mentioned has made a consider-
able payment into the Treasury since the close of the fiscal

year.

The Clerk for Caroline County, is indebted for revenue ac-
crued in his hands, as of the 1st of December, 1854, 1st of
June, 1855, 1st of December, 1855, and the 1st of June,
1856, amounting to $4,567.53. An account of his indebted-
ness has been sent to the State's Attorney, for that County,
for immediate suit, with instructions to prosecute "with dili-