590 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

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

Approved April 13th, 1914.

CHAPTER 367.

AN ACT to confer additional powers upon the Courts of the
Third Judicial Circuit of Maryland, relating to children living
in Harford County, who are now or may hereafter become de-
pendent, neglected or delinquent, to .define such terms, and to
provide for the treatment, control, maintenance, protection,
guardianship and care of the persons of such children.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That for the purposes of this Act, the words "dependent
child" and "neglected child" shall be Construed as meaning
any male child living in Harford County, and being under the
age of twenty years, or any female child living in said County,
being under the age of eighteen years, who for any cause is
destitute, homeless or abandoned, or dependent upon the public
for support, or has not fit and proper parental care or guard-
ianship, or who is feeble minded or otherwise mentally deficient,
or who habitually begs for alms, or is found living with any
vicious or depraved person, or has a home, which, by reason of
neglect, cruelty or depravity on the part of its parent or parents,
guardian or other persons having charge of it, is an unfit place
for such a child.

The term "delinquent child" shall be construed as meaning
any male or female child living in Harford County under the
ages above specified, and who, while under such age, may violate
any criminal law of the State, or is incorrigible, or knowingly
associates with thieves, vicious and depraved persons, or is
growing up in idleness or crime, or knowingly frequents any
gambling places, policy shops or patronizes and frequents liquor
or beer saloons unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, or is
guilty of indecent, immoral and lascivious conduct.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all such children de-
scribed in the aforegoing Section, and residing in Harford
County, are declared to be wards of the State, and the Jndges of
the Courts of the Third Judicial Circuit of Maryland, sitting as
a Court of Equity, shall have full power to deal with such child-
ren when brought before such Court and full jurisdiction over