STATE AID AND CHARITIES. 561
Mothers' Relief.

1929, ch. 401, sec. 21.

21. Any mother of a child or children under the age of fourteen (14)
years, whose husband is dead, and who is unable to support it or them and
maintain her home, may present a written application or petition for relief
to the County Commissioners of the county wherein she resides, or to the
Supervisors of City Charities of Baltimore City. Such application or
petition shall be verified in such manner and shall contain such informa-
tion as the said County Commissioners or Supervisors of City Charities of
Baltimore City may prescribe.

The child or children for whose benefit the relief is granted must be liv-
ing with the mother of such child or children. The relief shall be granted
only when, in the absence of such relief, the mother would be required to
work regularly away from her home and children, and when, by means of
such relief she will be able to remain at home with her children, except,
that she may be absent for work a definite number of days each week, to
be specified in the order giving relief, when such work can be done by her
without the sacrifice of health or the neglect of home and children.

A mother shall not receive such relief who is the owner of real property
or personal property other than the household goods. A mother shall not
receive such relief who has not resided in the county where the application
is made, or in the City of Baltimore, at least three years before making
such application. Whenever any child shall arrive at the age of fourteen
(14) years, the relief granted to the mother for such child shall cease; pro-
vided, that if a child of fourteen (14) years of age be ill or is incapaciated
for work, the mother shall receive the funds for its care, during such illness
or incapacity for work, until such child is sixteen years of age. It shall be
the duty of the Supervisors of City Charities of Baltimore City and the
County Commissioners of the respective counties to investigate every ap-
plication for relief made in Baltimore City or in any of the counties, re-
spectively, to hear all witnesses for applicants and to carry out the provi-
sions of this sub-title.

As to old age pensions, see art. 70A.

1929, ch. 401, sec. 22.

22. If upon the completion of the investigation of any application as
aforesaid, the said Supervisors of City Charities of Baltimore City or said
County Commissioners conclude that unless relief is granted, the mother
applying will be unable to support and educate her children and that they
may become a public charge, said County Commissioners shall pay or said
Supervisors of City Charities shall order the City Comptroller of Balti-
more City to pay out of the funds of Baltimore City, as the case may be,
to the mother monthly on the first day of each month, such sum as they
may deem sufficient to enable said mother to support and educate her chil-
dren. The Board of Estimates and the Mayor and City Council of Balti-
more and the County Commissioners of the respective counties of this
State are authorized and directed to levy such taxes, not exceeding one-