1318 LAND OFFICE. [ART. 54

1904, art.54, sec. 4. 1888, art 54, sec. 3. 1860, art. 54, sec. 2.
1782, ch. 38, sec. 11.

4. He may issue summons for witnesses to testify in cases pending
before him and may compel their attendance and may order depositions
to be taken in writing on reasonable notice to the opposite party to be
used in such cases.

Cited but not construed in Cunningham v. Browning, 1 Bl. 319.

Ibid. sec. 5. 1902, ch. 577, sec. 3 A.

5. All writs, attachments, orders and notices issued from the land
office shall be served by the sheriffs of the respective counties and
Baltimore city and return made thereon in the manner prescribed by
the rules of the land office. The commissioner of the land office may
make rules and regulations for the taking of depositions before the reg-
ular examiners of the circuit courts for the counties or Baltimore city,
or any justice of the peace, for the summoning of witnesses and com-
pelling their attendance. The pay of witnesses and the examiners or
justices of the peace shall be the same as is provided for in equity
cases. Any person authorized to take depositions shall have the author-
ity to issue subpoenas for witnesses when directed to do so and the
sheriff to whom they are directed shall serve the same and make returns
as in chancery cases in the circuit court. The sheriffs of the counties
and of Baltimore city shall collect all costs and judgments of the land
office as other costs and judgments of the circuit courts are collected
that may be placed in their hands for collection.

Ibid. sec. 6. 1888, art. 54, sec. 4. 1860, art. 54, sec. 3.
1853, ch. 415, sec. 2.

6. He shall keep a docket in the form of the dockets used in courts
of equity of all disputed cases affecting the title to land, transcripts of
which shall be evidence of the proceedings thereon.

This section referred to in distinguishing between the commissioner's min-
isterial and Judicial duties. Jay v. Van Bibber, 94 Md. 693.

Ibid. sec. 7. 1888, art. 54, sec. 5. 1860, art 54, sec. 4.
1853, ch. 415, sec. 2.

7. All papers filed in disputed cases affecting the title to land shall
with the proceedings, adjudications and orders of the commissioner of
the land office be duly recorded.

Ibid. sec. 8. 1888, art. 54, sec. 6. 1860, art. 54, sec. 5.
1853, ch. 415, sec. 2.

8. The commissioner of the land office shall be entitled to the same
fees for recording such papers and proceedings as the clerks of circuit
courts are for similar services.

As to the fees chargeable by the land office, see art. 36, sec. 13.

Ibid. sec. 9. 1888, art. 54, sec. 7. 1860, art. 54, sec. 6 .
1853, ch. 415, sec. 3.

9. He shall keep a seal, and all process relating to proceedings in
the land office shall issue under the seal of the land office attested by the
commissioner.