2124 ARTICLE 48A

appearing as witnesses before him or them; and false swearing in any mat-
ter or proceeding aforesaid shall be deemed perjury and shall be punish-
able as such. The Commissioner and deputy shall have the authority at all
times of the day or night, in performance of the duties imposed by the pro-
visions of this Article, to enter upon and examine any building or premises
where any fires or attempt to cause fires shall have occurred, or which
at the time may be burning, and also the power to enter upon at any
time any building adjacent to that in which the fire or attempt to cause fires
occurred, should he deem it necessary in the proper discharge of his duties;
and they may, in the exercise of their discretion, take full control and cus-
tody of the said buildings and premises, and place such person in charge
thereof as they may deem proper, until their examination and investigation
shall be completed. The Commissioner and deputy shall also have authority
to inspect public buildings, such as schoolhouses, churches, opera houses,
theatres, hospitals, asylums, public halls, factories, hotels, apartment
houses, and other buildings of like character, and to compel the owner
or owners thereof, or the school board, board of governors, board of man-
agers, trustees, or other public official, body or board having the supervision,
management or control of any public, private or parochial schoolhouse or
institution, to provide sufficient fire escapes or other means, of exit as he
shall direct for the benefit and safety of the occupants of said buildings,
and the said Commissioner or his deputy shall give thirty days' notice to the
owner or owners, school board, board of governors, board of managers,
trustees, or other public official, body or board having supervision, manage-
ment or control of such buildings to provide such fire escapes or other
means of exit as in his judgment shall be deemed necessary. Failure or
refusal of the said owner or owners, school board, board of governors,
board of managers, trustees, or other public official, body or board having
supervision, management or control of said buildings to comply with the
said notice, shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor, and the Commissioner or
his deputy is hereby authorized to close said building or buildings and deny
admission to all persons until his order or orders shall have been complied
with, and shall arrest or cause the said person or persons, members of any
school board, board of governors, board of managers, public official, or
members composing any body or board having the supervision, manage-
ment or control of such buildings, schoolhouses or institutions, to be ar-
rested, and upon conviction before any justice of the peace of the city
or county of the State of Maryland wherein the owner or owners, members
of any school board, board of governors, board of managers, public official,
or members composing any body or board having the supervision, man-
agement or control of such buildings, schoolhouses or institutions, reside,
or the respective building or buildings may be located, shall pay a fine
of not more than one hundred dollars or less than twenty-five dollars for
each offense, and an additional fine of five dollars for each and every day
thereafter that such violation shall continue; and if the accused shall feel
himself aggrieved by the judgment of the justice of the peace, he shall
have the right of appeal to the circuit court for the county or the criminal
court of Baltimore City having jurisdiction and be entitled to a jury trial.
This Article, however, shall not conflict with any existing laws or ordinances
in any of the towns or cities of the State of Maryland that, fully cover the
subject matter dealt with in this section.