592                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 256

less is in controversy, and the court shall have full discretion with
respect to advising persons, who may appear in proper person be-
fore the court, with respect to such technical defenses as limitations.

(b)    Service of process shall be in the same manner as is the
rule in the Circuit Court.

(c)    The People's Court is not a court of record, and cases ap-
pealed to the Circuit Court will be tried de novo.

(d)    Except in those cases where the Maryland Rules of Pro-
cedure provide an appeal to the Court of Appeals the Circuit Court
shall be a court of last resort in any appeals taken from the People's
Court.

288J.

(a)    There shall be a Chief Clerk of the People's Court who shall
be appointed by the Judge, receive an annual salary of not less
than $4,000.00 nor more than $6,000.00, and give bond with corpo-
rate surety, conditioned upon the proper performance of his duties,
in such amounts as the Judge shall prescribe, the premium of which
shall be paid by the county commissioners.

(b)    The Chief Clerk shall perform the duties prescribed for
Clerks of Court by Section 10 of Article IV of the Constitution of
Maryland. He shall be responsible for the maintenance, custody and
preservation of a full and true record of all proceedings in the
People's Court, and, as hereinafter provided, for the collection,
custody, accounting and remittance of all fines, penalties, forfei-
tures, fees and costs. The Chief Clerk shall perform such additional
duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Judge.

The Chief Clerk shall establish and maintain a complete and ac-
curate system of books and accounts for the effective control of all
monies received, disbursed or otherwise handled by the People's
Court. In the establishment of such accounting and recording prac-
tices and procedures he shall seek the advice of the State Auditor,
who shall study and review the systems of accounting and methods
of bookkeeping proposed to be established, and direct such revi-
sions therein as to him seem necessary or desirable. The Chief Clerk
shall comply with all directives of the State Auditor respecting
the bookeeping and accounting procedures of the office, and, shall
insure that such procedures continually conform to said directives.

The Chief Clerk shall file with the county commissioners at least
once monthly, a verified account of all fines, forfeitures, penalties,
fees and costs imposed by said Court during the previous month
which are payable to the county commissioners. Said account shall
show the amounts paid in each case, the nature of the charge for
which payment was made, the nature of the case and the name of
the party making payment. At the time of filing any account the
Chief Clerk shall pay over to the county commissioners the amount
of said fines, forfeitures, penalties, fees and costs received. All pay-
ments required by law to be made to the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles or to the State of Maryland shall be promptly made in
accordance with law and with such regulations consistent there-
with as the said Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or the Comp-
troller of the State of Maryland, respectively, shall prescribe. All