882 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 669

ishments", sub-title "Sentence", said new section to be
known as Section 683A and to follow immediately after Sec-
tion 683 of said Article, providing that certain County Com-
missioners may assign prisoners in the county jails to per-
form farm labor upon certain conditions.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That a new sentence be and it is hereby added to Article
27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition), title
"Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Sentence", said new
section to be known as Section 683A, to follow immediately
after Section 683 of said Article, and to read as follows:

683A. (a) The County Commissioners of the respective
counties shall have authority to assign able-bodied male pris-
oners in the respective county jails to perform farm labor, as
hereinafter defined, upon the following terms and conditions:

1. Such assignment may be made only after the written
request of some person or persons desiring to employ farm
labor, which request shall show to the satisfaction of the
respective County Commissioners that such labor is not other-
wise obtainable.

2. All costs incident to such an assignment including the
cost of transportation of such prisoners to and from the
respective jails, a reasonable per diem wage for the prisoner
or prisoners performing such farm labor and the cost of prop-
erly guarding said prisoners while performing said labor shall
be borne by the person or persons making such request, and
the respective County Commissioners may require such proof
of financial responsibility, including a payment in advance, as
they may deem advisable.

3. All and any liability for injuries to such prisoners while
being transported to or from such jails or while performing
such work shall be assumed by the person or persons making
such request.

4. Such assignments shall be made on a daily basis only
and such prisoners so assigned shall be returned to the respec-
tive county jails each night,

5. Such other terms and conditions as the respective County
Commissioners may deem advisable.

(b) On the order in writing of the Board of County Com-
missioners of any county it shall be the duty of the sheriff or
other officer having charge of such prisoners of that county
to send, under a competent guard, such number of able-bodied
male prisoners in the county jail undergoing punishment under