1904.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 76$

books, indexes, and all the records and documents be-
longing to the State of Maryland, now in the Register
of Will's office of Anne Arundel county to the Laud
Office of Maryland.

Whereas, When the Capital of the Province of
Maryland was removed from St. Mary's city to An-
napolis, all the proceedings of the Prerogative Court
were removed to the office of the Register of Wills of
Anne Arundel county; and

Whereas, Under the Provincial and Colonial Govern-
ment of Maryland all testate and intestate estates were
settled in the Prerogative Court and the records of
proceedings, until the independence of the colonies-
was achieved and Maryland became an independent
State, are all in the office of the Register of Wills'
office of Anne Arundel county; and

Whereas, Indexes of the wills, appraisements and
proceedings of said Court have been made at different
times and paid for by the State of Maryland; and

Whereas, The Register of Wills of Anne Arundel
county has completed an index of all "Inventories"
(126 volumes) embracing names and references, also
20,000 names and references from the testamentary
proceedings of the Prerogative Court, the whole work
done to date covering a period of four years and em-
bracing 40,000 names thus indexed; therefore

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Maryland, That the sum of two thousand dollars,
(2,000.00) be and the same is hereby appropriated to
pay the Register of Wills of A.me Arundel county
for the work done in indexing the proceedings and
inventories of estates settled in the Prerogative Court
being the indices to the forty thousand (40,000) names
made by the Register of Wills as aforesaid; and the
Comptroller of the State is hereby authorized to draw
his warrant on the Treasurer of the State for the said
sum of two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars as hereinafter
provided for. And the said two thousand dollars
($2,000.00), shall be in full payment to the Register
of Wills for all work done in indexing such records
and proceedings, and for all claim or demand for any