WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 1577

in cases of appeal from judgment of Justice of the Peace;
provided, nevertheless, that the Board of Commis-
sioners may decline to open, lay out, extend, widen, grade
or straighten any street, alley or highway, or any square,
waterway or drain, notwithstanding the decision of said
Court; but in case of refusal to do so, they shall be liable
for all costs incurred, and shall pay the same. All benefits
assessed by virtue of the above provisions shall be liens
on the respective lots or parcels of ground on which they
are assessed, from the time of the final ratification of the
aforesaid return, and shall be collected as taxes are col-
lected, or may be collected by action at law. On appeal,
the Court or jury may alter the award so returned, whether
of damages or benefits, and award costs in its discretion.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted by the General
Assembly of Maryland, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1947.

Approved April 25, 1947.

CHAPTER 631.
(Senate Bill 261)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
18 of Article 62 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1943 Supplement), title "Marriages", to provide for
the copying and preservation of reports of marriages
and divorces.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 18 of Article 62 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1943 Supplement), title "Marriages," be and it
is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to
read as follows:

18. It shall be the duty of the several Clerks of Court
to transmit monthly to the Bureau of Vital Statistics of
the State Department of Health, on forms to be supplied
by the said Bureau, a report of each marriage and of each
divorce which has been recorded during the month.

It shall be the further duty of the several Clerks
of Court to transmit monthly to the Bureau of Vital
Statistics, of the State Department of Health, upon