1284                               Laws of Maryland                         [Ch. 739

226.   Custody of Reports. Every officer with whom statements or
accounts are required by any section of this Article to be filed, shall
receive and file and preserve such statement or accounts in his office,
and shall keep the same as part of the records thereof for at least
three years after they are filed. And all such statements and accounts
shall during the hours for which the office in which they may be filed
is open, be subject and open to the inspection of any citizen of this
State, and copies of such statements or accounts, certified by the of-
ficer in whose office they may be so kept, under the seal of his office
shall be evidence in all the courts to the same extent as the original
thereof would be if produced and proved.

227.  Offenses. (a) The following persons shall be guilty of corrupt
practices and shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of
this section:

(b)  Offerer. Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by him-
self or by another, give or offer or promise to any person any money,
gift, advantage, preferment, aid, emolument or any valuable thing
whatever, for the purpose of inducing or procuring any person to
vote, or refrain from voting, for or against any person, or for or
against any measure or proposition at any election or primary elec-
tion or political convention or for or against the election of any officer
by the General Assembly of Maryland.

(c)  Acceptor; Solicitor. Every person who shall, directly or in-
directly, receive, accept, request or solicit from any person, candidate,
committee, association, organization or corporation, any money,
gift, advantage, preferment, aid, emolument, or any valuable thing
whatsoever, for the purpose of inducing or procuring any person to
vote, or refrain from voting, for or against any person, or for or
against any measure or proposition at any election or primary elec-
tion or political convention.

(d)  Acting on Offer. Every person who, in consideration of any
money, gift, advantage, preferment, aid, emolument, or any valuable
thing whatsoever, paid, received, accepted, or promised to the
advantage of himself or any other person, shall vote, or refrain from
voting for or against any person, or for or against any measure at
any such election, primary election or political convention.

(e)  Expending Money Other Than Through Treasurer or Political
Agent. Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, pay, give,
contribute or promise any money or other valuable thing, to defray,
or towards defraying the costs of expenses of any campaign or elec-
tion, to any person, committee, company, club, organization or as-
sociation, other than to a treasurer or a political agent; but this
sub-section shall not apply to dues regularly paid for membership in
any political club if all money expended by such club or in connection
with the costs or expenses of any campaign or election shall be paid
out by it only through a treasurer or political agent as provided in
this Article, or to any expenses for postage, telegrams, telephoning,
radio and television programs, stationery, printing, advertising and
publishing, expressage or traveling and board incurred by any candi-
date for office or for nomination thereto, so far as they are permitted
by this Article or for volunteered time or personal vehicles or per-
sonal advertising or costs and expenses incident to the expression of
personal views in accordance with the provisions of Section 219 (a)
herein.