1878. ] OF THE SENATE. 65

and had the sanction of the State Superintendent of Public
Instruction.

It has been well known also to the General Assembly all
the time that this construction bad been uniformly put upon
the section of the law directing the distributions, yet no
change has been made in the phraseology of that section, al-
though it has been repealed several times. The fact that
notwithstanding the knowledge that this construction has al-
ways obtained, the Legislature, after repealing the section
several times, has always re-enacted it again in precisely the
same words, would certainly be a clear indication that the
construction placed on the words was the proper one. It
would seem to be proper that an amendment should be made
to the law requiring the four quarterly distributions of school
tax to be equal in amount, or as nearly so as the circum-
stances of the case would permit.

Respectfully submitted.

LEVIN WOOLFORD,

Comptroller of the Treasury,

Which was read, and

On motion by Mr. McLane,

Was referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to
be printed.

Mr. Hepbron presented the petition of Elihu Smith and
63 others of Kent County, praying for a law to enable the
legal voters in the several districts of Kent County to decide
for themselves whether liquors shall be sold in said districts.

Which was read, and referred to Senators Hepbron, Ford
and Miller.

Mr. Lancaster presented the memorial of Jno. Murphy &
Co., asking a subscription to Hinkley's Testamentary Law
and the Law of Inheritance, and Apprentices in Maryland.

Which was read, and referred to the Committee on Judi-
cial Proceedings.

On motion by Mr. Hepbron,

Leave was granted to Senators Hepbron, Ford and Miller
to introduce a bill to be entitled an Act to enable the legal
voters of the several districts of Kent County to decide for
themselves whether liquors shall be sold in said districts.

On motion by Mr. Miller,

Leave was granted to the Committee on Finance to intro-
duce a bill to be entitled an Act to repeal Section 138, of the
5