WILLIAM GRASON, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1839.

rer of the Western Shore of Maryland to the order of the
commissioners for Montgomery county, and shall be by
them distributed among the several election districts in
due proportion to the white population in each district.

CHAP. 100.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the commissioners for
Montgomery county, shall on the first Monday in April
next, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and annually
afterwards, appoint three competent citizens in each elec-
tion district of said county, as managers of schools in

Managers to be

appointed.

said district; and in case the persons so appointed, or any
of them, shall refuse to serve, or die, or remove from the
district or otherwise become incapable of serving, the va-
cancy or vacancies shall be filled by the said commission-

Vacancies.

ers at their next ensuing meeting; and each of the said
managers before he enters upon the duties of the office,
and within fifteen days after the notification of his appoint-
ment by the commissioners, shall take and subscribe the
following oath, before some justice of the peace of said
county, viz: I do solemnly and sincerely swear or affirm (as
the case may be) that I will, in all things, to the best of
my knowledge and ability, well and truly execute the trust
reposed in me, as one of the managers of schools for
Montgomery county, without prejudice or partiality; which
oath shall be filed in the office of the commissioners for
Montgomery county, before such managers shall proceed
to execute the duties assigned them.

Oath of office.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the said school mana-
gers of the several districts, shall meet in general meet-
ings, which shall assemble at Rockville on the third
Monday in July, and the third Monday in January

General meet-
ings.

every year, and oftener if they should think proper; and
the said managers when so assembled, or a majority of
those who may be then present, shall determine in what
manner the said school monies shall be applied and dis-
tributed in each election district, for the most effectual dis-
semination of instruction in common schools, for the be-

Application of
determined.

nefit of all children requiring instruction, always giving
the preference, however, to the poor and the children of
the most needy, including in the distribution so to be made
of said funds, a provision for such books and stationary
as may be necessary for the poor; and if any surplus re-
mains over and above the amount that may be required
as aforesaid, the same shall be applied towards assisting
the patrons of the several schools in compensating the
teachers.

To give prefer-
ence to poor

children.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the said managers shall

Compensation.