906 LAND OFFICE. [ART. 54

ing the validity of surveys made under warrants or orders issued
by him; and also all disputes concerning the issuing of patents;
and in all disputes that come before him, he shall have full power
to decree thereon according to equity and good conscience, and
the principles established in courts of equity.
Armstrong v. Bittinger, 47 Md. 111.

F. G. L., (1860,) art. 54, sec 15. 1846, ch, 92.

22. In any matter pending in the land office in which the
commissioner for the time being may have been counsel, or may
be interested or related to the parties, and on that account incom-
petent to act, he shall certify the same in writing to the judges of
the second judicial district, who shall thereupon hear and decide
such case or appoint some person to do so, which decision shall
have the same effect and be liable to the same incidents as the;
decision of the commissioner of the land office.

Ibid. sec. 16. 1781, ch. 20, secs 4, 8. 1874, ch. 354.

23. Any vacant land, whether cultivated or uncultivated, and
any land which has escheated by reason of the last owner in fee
simple dying intestate thereof and without heirs, may be taken
up by any person by complying with the provisions herein con-
tained.

Ibid. sec. 17. 1860, ch. 35. 1861, ch. 3.

24. Any person desiring to take up vacant land or lands which,
have escheated, shall obtain a warrant from the commissioner of
the land office, directed to the surveyor of the county where the
land lies, requiring him to survey the same, and return a certifi-
cate of survey to the land office within one-year from the date of
the warrant, and such warrant may be in the form heretofore
used in the land office, and may be either a common warrant, a
special warrant, a warrant of re-survey, a proclamation warrant
or an escheat warrant, whichever may be suited to the case of the
party applying for the same...

Proprietary v. Jennings, 1 H. & McH 92 Kelly's Lessee v. Greenfield, 2 H.
& McH. 121. Garretson's Lessees Cole, 2 H. & McH 459. Ringgold's Lessee
v. Malott, 1 H. & J. 299. Attorney General v. Snowden, 1 H & J 332. Ham-
mond's Lessee v. Norris, 2 H. & J. 130 Cockey's Lessee v. Smith, 3 H & J. 20.