362 IMMIGRATION. [ART. 45 A

1896, ch. 295.

8. The board of immigration commissioners shall have power
to make contracts with railroads, steamship lines, transportation
companies and masters of vessels, securing a low rate of trans-
portation to immigrants, and to make the necessary arrangements
for their reception and temporary accommodation upon their
arrival at Baltimore or other points in the State, until they can
be distributed and located in the different counties of the State.

Ibid.

9. The board of immigration commissioners shall meet quart-
erly at their office in Baltimore city, and at such other times as
they may determine for the purpose of promoting the work for
which this bureau is organized; and they shall make an annual
report to the Governor, to be by him laid before the General
Assembly at each regular session; said report shall contain an
itemized statement of all money received by the board, and to
whom and for what purpose paid (the vouchers for which
expenditures shall be filed in the office of the bureau, ) the results
attained or expected to be attained, the statistics of immigration
and other kindred information, together with such suggestion a&
the board may think proper to make.

Ibid. 1898, ch. 282.

10. The sum of three thousand dollars per year for the years
1898 and 1899 is hereby appropriated for the use of the
bureau of immigration, for their expenses in carrying out the
provisions of this article, said fund to be known and designated as
the "Immigration Fund, " and the comptroller shall draw his
warrant on said fund upon the requisition of the board of immi-
gration commissioners, and the salaries of the superintendent and
secretary shall be paid on the warrant of the comptroller and the
requisition of the board of immigration commissioners out of
any funds in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. *

1896, ch. 295.

11. The first term of office of the board of immigration com-
missioners hereby appointed shall commence on the first day of
May, in the year 1896, and if there be not sufficient opportunity
after the. adoption of this article for the Governor to appoint such

*BY the act of 1896, chapter 300, a special additional appropriation of $500 was
made to the bureau of immigration, to be applied to the payment of Its expenses
during 1896 and 1697.