1548 OFFICIAL OATHS. [ART. 70

be competent to certify the character and qualification of officers
equally with the aforesaid clerks.

It is not the duty of the secretary of state to preserve a record of the
oaths and signatures of the officers. The only authority given to the secre-
tary of state by the act of 1852, ch. 172, to certify, relates to the class of
officers named in this section. Harwood v. Marshall, 9 Md. 102.

1904, art. 70, sec. 13. 1888, art. 70, sec. 12. 1860, art. 68, sec. 12.
1779, ch. 25, sec. 9.

13. All deputies and under-clerks of the clerks of any of the courts
in this State, of the registers of wills, commissioner of the land office
and sheriffs, before they enter upon the duties of their several offices,
shall severally take and subscribe the following oath: I, A. B., do
swear that I will not for lucre or malice delay any person applying to
me for any business belonging to the office I officiate in, and that I will
not directly or indirectly ask, take, exact, demand or receive from or
charge to any such person to my own use any fee or reward whatsoever
for any services I may do as deputy of the said office, and that in mak-
ing out the office fees I will not wittingly or willingly charge other or
higher fees than are allowed by law.