PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, GOVERNOR. 77

CHAPTER 61.

AN ACT to appropriate a sum of money to defray the expenses
of the interment of the bodies of deceased soldiers, sailors and
marines who served in the United or Confederate States Army
or Navy between the years 1861-1865.

WHEREAS, The ranks of the men who fought in the service of
the United States and Confederate States between the years
1861-1865 is fast being depleted, and the number of the old sol-
diers and sailors passing away is largely increasing; and

WHEREAS, The burden upon the survivors in providing a de-
cent burial for those that pass away without leaving any estate
is becoming too great to be borne by them; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by tlie General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the expenses of the interment of the bodies of de-
ceased sailors, soldiers and mariners who served in the United
States or Confederate States Army or Navy between the years
1861-1865 'and were honorably discharged, shall be paid by the
State of Maryland; provided, that the expenses of said inter-
ment shall not exceed in any one case more than thirty-five
dollars; provided, that said expenses shall only be borne by the
State of Maryland in the event that such deceased soldier,
sailor or mariner left no estate, and that the death occurred in
the State of Maryland.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the Comptroller of the
Treasury be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to issue
his warrant on the Treasurer of the State to pay the expense
hereinbefore mentioned; that before the Comptroller shall issue
warrant there shall be presented to him, with an itemized bill
of the undertaker, a certificate of death, stating the name and
age of the deceased, together with the cause of death, if the de-
ceased was buried in Baltimore City; and if the deceased was
buried in one of the Counties of the State, then a certificate of
the County Commissioner living nearest the place where the
deceased shall have lived, or the certificate of a health officer;
said certificate also to bear the endorsement of the Commander
of the Department of Maryland, Grand Army of the Republic,
or of the Commander, President of the Association of the Mary-
land Line, as to the service of the deceased.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That in no case shall the expense
of interment be paid when the deceased is buried in a cemetery
or County plot used exclusively for interment of paupers or
public charges.