LLOYD LOWNDES, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

CHAPTER 205.
AN ACT to repeal Section 37 of Article 19 of the Code of
Public General Laws, title "Comptroller," as amended by
Chapter 83 of the Acts of 1892, Chapter 300 of the Acts
of 1894, and as further amended by Chapter 77 of the
Acts of 1896, and to re-enact the same with amendments.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That section 37 of Article 19 of the Code of Pub-

707

lic General Laws, title "Comptroller," as amended by chapter
83 of the Acts of 1892, chapter 300 of the Acts of 1894, and
as further amended by chapter 77 of the Acts of 1896, be and
the same is hereby repealed and re-enacted so as to read as fol-
lows :

37. The Comptroller is authorized and empowered to adjust
and settle the claims of the State against all collectors, sheriffs,
clerks of courts and registers of wills, and other collectors or

Repeal.

receivers of public moneys and their securities, and against
corpoiations and individuals who may be indebted to the
State, in all cases where said claims accrued prior to and
including the year 1896, and whether said claims be in the
form of judgment or otherwise ; and for the purpose of closing
all such cases, the Comptroller is fully anthorized to compro-
mise the same by abating the interest that has accrued, or any
proportion thereof, or any part of the principal debt in his
discretion, so as to best subserve the interest of the State, and
shall grant discharges to the said parties and their securities,
upon the payment into the treasury of the amount required by
him to be paid in the settlement as aforesaid ; provided, the
Comptroller shall be satisfied after thorough examination into
the claim, that the same could not be collected for the State by
legal process, and further, that the Governor and Treasurer,
for the time being, shall each approve in writing any such
abatement before the same shall be effective ; and provided
further, that no discharge or acquittance under this section
shall be effective, unless the party or parties to be benefited by
the same shall first pay the attorney who shall have the case in
hand the legal fees, and all fees of clerks or sheriffs.

Adjust
claims.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this Act shall take effect .
from the date of its passage.

Approved April 9, 1898.

Effective.