54 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

ACTS OF ASSEMBLY

For some years the Hall of Records has been attempting to have legisla-
tion enacted which would regulate the form of instruments presented to the
Clerks of Court for recording. Before the introduction in our county court-
houses of recording by photostat and microfilm—there is now only one county
without one or the other—it made little difference whether these instruments
were uniform in size, whether they were on white or colored paper or whether
the ink used contrasted with the background. But in photography these are
important factors. We are glad to report that a bill, first approved by the
Legislative Council, was introduced in the Senate at the 1957 session and was
subsequently passed. It is a very important step forward in the field of recor-
dation. The Law (Chapter 95, Acts of 1957) is given here in full.

CHAPTER 95
(Senate Bill 4)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 64 of
Article 17 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1956 Supple-
ment), title "Clerks of Courts", sub-title "Clerks of Circuit
Courts", generally amending the laws as to certain instruments
offered for recordation in the offices of the clerks of the court in
this State and concerning the photostating or microfilming of
such instruments.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 64 of Article 17 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1956 Supplement), title "Clerks of Courts", sub-title "Clerks of
Circuit Courts", be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

64. Any person, firm or corporation offering for recordation in
the Clerk's office of the Superior Court of Baltimore City, or in the
Clerk's offices of the Circuit Courts for the several counties, any
deed, mortgage, lease, agreement, conditional sales contract, chattel
mortgage, or any other recordable instrument upon a printed form,
[or any typewritten instrument, not upon a printed form,] shall
cause said printed [forms or typewritten instrument] form to
be printed [or typed in good, clear, readable type,] in not less than
eight-point type, in black letters and upon white paper of sufficient
weight and thickness as to be clearly readable. // such record-