860 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 437

from the date of the denial of any such petition, subsequent
petitions covering the same or substantially the same terri-
tory may be filed as aforesaid and new hearings held and
determinations made thereon.

C. After the committee has made and recorded a deter-
mination that there is need, in the interest of the public
health, safety and welfare, for the organization of a district
in a particular territory and has defined the boundaries there-
of, it shall consider the question whether the operation of a
district within such boundaries with the powers conferred
upon soil conservation districts in this Act is administratively
practicable and feasible. To assist the committee in the de-
termination of such administrative practicability and feasi-
bility, it shall be the duty of the committee, within a reason-
able time after entry of the finding that there is need for
the organization of the proposed district and the determina-
tion of the boundaries thereof, to hold a referendum within the
proposed district upon the proposition of the creation of the
district, and to cause due notice of such referendum to be
given. All occupiers of lands lying within the boundaries of
the territory, as determined by the State soil conservation
committee, shall be eligible to vote in such referendum. Only
such land occupiers shall be eligible to vote.

D. The committee shall pay all expenses for the issuance
of such notices and the conduct of such hearings and refer-
enda, and shall supervise the conduct of such hearings and
referenda. It shall issue appropriate regulations governing
the conduct of such hearings and referenda, and providing for
the registration prior to the date of the referendum of all eli-
gible voters, or prescribing some other appropriate procedure
for the determination of those eligible as voters in such refer-
endum. No informalities in the conduct of such referendum
or in any matters relating thereto shall invalidate said refer-
endum or the result thereof if notice thereof shall have been
given substantially as herein provided and said referendum
shall have been fairly conducted.

E. The committee shall publish the result of such refer-
endum and shall thereafter consider and determine whether
the operation of the district within the defined boundaries
is administratively practicable and feasible. If the committee
shall determine that the operation of such district is not ad-
ministratively practicable and feasible, it shall record such
determination and deny the petition. If the committee shall
determine that the operation of such district is administra-
tively practicable and feasible, it shall record such determina-
tion and shall proceed with the organization of the district