538 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 317

Annotated Code of Maryland, title "Health," sub-title "State
Registrar of Vital Statistics" (Section 9 having been re-
pealed and re-enacted by Chapter 691 of the Acts of 1916),
are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, so as to
read as follows:

SEC. 9. Each election district, city and incorporated town
shall constitute a registration district; provided, the State
Registrar may combine two or more registration districts in
any county into one registration district. The county regis-
trar shall, with the advice and consent of the local Board of
Health, designate a competent person in each registration dis-
trict who shall act as local registrar, and shall within the dis-
trict for which he is appointed receive death certificates and
issue burial or removal permits upon the same and receive
birth certificates and perform such other services as the State
Registrar may direct, that when, in the judgment of the State
Registrar of Vital Statistics, it is necessary to appoint more
than one deputy local registrar in any registration district,
the State Registrar shall authorize and direct the local regis-
trar of vital statistics to designate and appoint as many addi-
tional competent persons to act as deputy local registrars as
the State Registrar may deem necessary. The Mayor of any
incorporated town of less than five thousand population shall,
with the advice and consent of the State Registrar of Vital
Statistics, appoint a competent person to act as local regis-
trar. In any district in which the local registrar is not ap-
pointed within one month after an office or a vacancy is cre-
ated, the State Registrar of Vital Statistics is authorized to
make such appointment. After appointment the tenure of
office of a local or deputy local registrar shall be permanent
until he resigns, unless by reason of his conduct the State
Registrar, with the advice and consent of the State Board of
Health, requires him to vacate his office. Each deputy local
registrar appointed as herein provided shall accept the ap-
pointment in writing, and it shall be his duty to act as local
registrar in his stead in case of absence, illness or disability,
and when it is necessary in order to promote public con-
venience to do so, and who shall be subject to all rules and
regulations governing local registrars. No local registrar or
deputy local registrar shall issue any permit for the disposi-
tion of any dead body excepting upon the presentation of a
proper and correct certificate of death, nor shall he in any case