198 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

sioned staff officers of their respective regiments, and they
shall, in their discretion, warrant the non-commissioned offi-
cers of the companies of their respective regiments or battal-
ions from the members thereof, upon the written nomination
of the commanding officer of the company. In the troop, bat-
tery or separate company and in the Signal Corps the non-
commissioned officers shall be warranted by the commanding
officer of the brigade, at his discretion, from the members there-
of, upon the written nomination of the commanding officer of
the troop, battery, company or Signal Corps. No enlisted man
shall be warranted as a non-commissioned officer unless he
shall have passed previously a satisfactory examination before
a board of examination to be appointed by the officer author-
ized to issue such warrant. Sergeants, first class, and ser-
geants of the.hospital corps must be appointed from the mem-
bers of the Hospital Corps. The officer warranting a non-com-
missioned officer shall have power to reduce to the ranks, for
good and sufficient reasons, the non-commissioned officers
named in this section; but such as were enlisted as non-com-
missioned officers shall be discharged. Non-commissioned offi-
cers who shall be dropped vacate their position. The provision
of this section apply to the warrant and petty officers of the
Naval Brigade.

63. The force organized as prescribed in this Act shall be
considered in the actual service of the State, and the members
thereof shall be subject to all military laws, orders and regu-
lations prescribed for the government thereof, and all military
offenses shall be considered, and they are hereby declared to
be offenses against the general police regulations of the State,
and shall be punished by fine or imprisonment as hereinafter
provided.

Except when on duty as prescribed in Section 13 of this Act
and subject to the provisions thereof, commissioned officers
may be tried by court-martial for the following offenses:

1. Non-attendance without excuse at any drill, parade, en-
campment, meeting for instruction, or other duty ordered by
competent authority.

2. Unmilitary or unofficer-like conduct.

3. Drunkenness on duty.

4. Neglect of duty.

5. Disobedience of orders or any act contrary to the provi-
sions of the Militia laws of the State or to the orders and
regulations prescribed for the government of the National
Guard.

6. Refusing to grant a discharge to an enlisted man when
entitled to same.