1218                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                        CH. 613

local public office for political advertising a rate in excess of the
regular local rate regularly charged by such person or corporation for
commercial advertising except that when such political advertising
is placed with the person or corporation through the medium of an
advertising or press agency, then the regular national rate regularly
charged by such person or corporation for commercial advertising
may be charged.

(d) Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and any person
so convicted is subject to the penalties provided in Section 24-27 of
this article 26-20 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

26-18. Procedure on petition.

(a)    Petition.—At any time within thirty days after any election
held under the laws of this State, any defeated candidate at such
election, or any ten duly qualified voters at such election, may present
to the circuit court of any county, or to the Superior Court of Balti-
more City, a petition setting forth under oath that prohibited prac-
tices, contrary to the provisions of a specified section or sections of
this article, were committed by the successful candidate or candi-
dates or in the person of his or their agent or agents at or preliminary
to such election, within the county or city in which said petition was
filed, naming the successful candidate or candidates as defendants,
and praying that the fact alleged may be inquired into.

(b)    Notice and answer.—The court, upon the giving by the peti-
tioners of such security for costs as the court shall deem reasonable
and upon such petition and the affidavit or affidavits filed therewith,
shall promptly order such reasonable notice of such petition to be
given to the defendant or defendants, and require him or them,
within as short a time as may be reasonable, to answer, show cause,
or otherwise defend as the court may deem just and reasonable.

(c)    Trial.—Such petition shall be tried without a jury, unless
any of the parties thereto shall elect to have the same tried by a jury.
The case shall be tried not later than fifteen days after such petition
has been filed if possible, and shall be given priority over other court
business, and when a jury trial is demanded by any of the parties to
such petition, the jury for said term shall try it; and if the jury for
said term shall have been dismissed, the court shall recall said jury
for the purpose of trying said case. In every case in which a jury
trial shall be demanded, the judge shall frame and submit to the jury
for its decision and verdict all appropriate and necessary issues of
fact presented by the pleadings in such case. The court shall bring
said cause to determination and judgment as speedily as a just regard
for the rights of the parties concerned may permit and shall expedi-
tiously inquire into, or, when a jury is demanded, cause the jury to
inquire into all the facts and circumstances and into such violations
of or failure to comply with the provisions of this article, as may be
alleged in any such petition.

(d)    Judge to file findings with Secretary of State in certain
cases; duty of Secretary of State.—In case such petition relates to
the election of electors of President and Vice-President of the United
States, a Senator of the United States, a Representative in Congress,
or the Governor or Attorney General, or a Senator or Delegate to the
General Assembly of Maryland, or a judge, or a clerk of a court of law,