ACT. 54. ] LAND OFFICE. 169

2. He shall have power to appoint a chief clerk who shall
receive a salary of eighteen hundred dollars per annum, and
two assistant clerks who shall each receive a salary of fifteen
hundred dollars per annum, and two index clerks who shall
receive a salary of twelve hundred dollars each per annum;
and the sum of seven thousand two hundred dollars, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated annually
for said purpose.

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

This bill became a law on March 18, 1908, without signature,
by reason of the expiration of the six days provided for in the
Constitution.

CHAPTER 606.

AX ACT to provide for the restoration of public records, to be
designated by the Commissioner of the Land Office, and
appropriating a sum of money therefor.

WHEREAS, Certain public records of inestimable value to the
people of Maryland, and deposited in the land office at Annapo-
lis, are fast decaying and disintegrating, and in immediate
danger of being irretrievably lost, as appears to this Assembly
by the condensed report of the Public Records Commission,
and other public records, the property of the State, are in like
condition in various public offices of Maryland; and

WHEREAS, The Commissioner of the Land Office should be
given authority and discretion in designating the records at
this time most in need of preservation and restoration.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the Commissioner of the Land Office be, and he is
hereby authorized and directed to have transcribed or rebound
such records in his custody as may absolutely require copying
or rebinding in order to replace or preserve the originals.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the sum of three thousand
dollars annually, or so much thereof as may be necessary for
two years be and the same is hereby appropriated for the use
of the Commissioner of the Land Office, to be by him applied
solely to the restoration of ancient public records, and to be
expended according to his judgment and discretion. And the
Comptroller of the State Treasury is hereby authorized to draw
his warrant on the Treasurer of the State on the order of the