856 LAWS OP MARYLAND. [CH. 393

indebted as alleged, or that the defendant never promised as
alleged, under either of which forms of plea all matters of
defence and discharge shall be admissible in evidence, except
any matters which could only be availed of by a special plea,
or by a more express denial than such general issue plea, in an
action of assumpsit prior to the enactment of this section.

And the provisions of this section shall apply, mutatis
mutandis, to the pleadings when the defendant relies upon
matter ex Contractu in a plea of set off.

Approved April 10th, 1918.

CHAPTER 393.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact with amendments Section 15
of Article 33 of Bagby's Code of the Public General Laws
of Maryland, title "Elections," sub-title "Registration," and
to exempt Anne Arundel County from certain provisions
thereof.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 15 of Article 33 of Bagby's Code of the
Public General Laws of Maryland, title "Elections," sub-title
"Registration," be and the same is hereby repealed and re-
enacted with amendments so as to read as follows:

Section 15. Each judge of election in the City of Baltimore
and each of the two judges of election appointed before the first
day of July in counties, as provided in Section 7, shall also be
an officer of registration in the district or precinct for which
he shall be appointed, and the judges so appointed when duly
qualified shall for their respective districts or precincts, collec-
tively, constitute the board of registry thereof. Said officers of
registration, and each of them, in addition to the power herein-
after conferred upon them as judges of election shall have, dur-
ing the respective times of the appointed sittings of said board
of registry, authority to keep the peace and to preserve order
and enforce obedience to their lawful commands at and around
their places of registration; to keep the access to such place
open and unobstructed, to prevent and suppress riots, tumult,
violence and disorder, any violation of this article, and all other
improper practices at and around their place of registration
tending to intimidation or to the obstruction of their work; they
may compel by summons or attachment the presence of wit-
nesses before them for any purpose connected with the duties