164

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

deem necessary; and all such provision heretofore

made in procuring fire apparatus for said county,

and the cost and expense thereof, be and the same

are hereby ratified and approved.

SEC. 2. And be it also enacted, That in establish-

How estab-
lished.

ing said department they shall provide all such

proper fire engines and instruments, with sufficient

equipment necessary therefor, to be used for the

preservation of property in said districts as afore-

said, with full power and authority also to employ

and dismiss at pleasure all officers and employees

necessary, in their judgment, to serve and use such

fire apparatus for its intended purposes; and further,

Rules and reg-

also, to ordain all needful rules and regulations for

ulations.

the proper conduct of such officers and employees

and penalties for the infraction thereof.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That said County Com-

missioners shall devolve upon any person or per-

sons they may select full power to investigate the

Investigate
cause of fire.

cause or causes of any and all fires that may happen

in said county, whenever they deem such investi-

gation expedient or necessary; and such person or

persons, charged by them with such inquiries, shall

have power to summon and compel the attendance

of all necessary witnesses, and to direct them to pro-

duce all necessary books and papers; that every

such summons shall be directed to the sheriff of said

county, who is hereby required to serve the same as

other writs of like nature, and he shall be entitled

to have and demand like fees as are now allowed for

similar writs; and all persons refusing to obey such

Penalty for
refusing to

summons, so served, shall be fined five dollars for the

obey summons

first refusal, such fine to be recovered as all fines or

penalties are recovered, and on any other or further

refusal they shall be deemed guilty of a misde-

meanor, and be punished, after conviction, under

an indictment for such offence in the Circuit Court

of said county by said court; and said court shall

order the person so convicted to be imprisoned in

the county jail of said county for not less than six

months nor more than twelve months; and it shall

be the duty of the State's Attorney of said county

duly to prosecute all persons so offending, or offend-

ing in any manner aforesaid against any of the here-

inafter provisions of this act, as in case of all other

crimes and misdemeanors.