obtain, properly filled up and signed by them; but they are hereby expressly forbidden to antedate any license or issue to any person or persons any license other than in the month for which the same is legally obtainable, under a penalty of fifty dollars for each and every offense, said penalty to be recovered by an action at law upon their official bond.

1888, art. 17, sec. 59. 1860, art. 18, sec. 62. 1853, ch. 86, sec. 3. 63. On or before the first Monday of June and December in each year, they shall return to the comptroller, under oath, a list and account of the licenses issued by them, respectively, which shall contain the number of licenses issued, of each grade and kind, when issued, what amount of money was received for each license, and the person to whom the same was granted; and also show the number, grades and description of blank licenses remaining unissued.

Ibid. sec. 60. 1860, art. 18, sec. 63. 1853, ch. 86, sec. 4.

64. Any clerk who shall fail or neglect (annually), on the first day of May or at such other time or times as may be necessary, to apply to the. comptroller for blank licenses, in the manner herein directed, shall forfeit and pay for every such failure or neglect, the sum of one thousand dollars.

Ibid. sec. 61. 1860, art. 18, sec. 64. 1853, ch. 86, sec. 5.

65. Any clerk who shall refuse or neglect to return to the comptroller lists and accounts of all licenses issued by him, as hereinbefore required, shall be charged by the comptroller with the whole amount of blank licenses delivered to him, at the several rates fixed by law therefor; and the comptroller shall immediately thereafter direct the official bond of such clerk to be put in suit for the recovery thereof.

Ibid. sec. 62. 1860, art. 18, sec. 65. 1824, ch. 158. 1827, ch. 117, sec. 6. 1898, ch. 264.

66. Every clerk shall lay before every grand jury attending his court a list of all licenses granted by him for two years prior to the meeting of such grand jury, setting forth in full the names of the parties licensed, the date of issue, the amount of capital stock, if any, the expiration of and the value of such licenses, under a penalty of fifty dollars for each and every offense, said penalty to be recovered by an action at law upon his official bond.

Clerks of Circuit Courts and Superior Court of Baltimore

City.

1888, art. 17, sec. 63. 1860, art. 18, sec. 48. 1843, ch. 284, sec. 1. 67. All civil commissions issued by the governor and sent by the secretary of State to the clerks of the respective circuit courts, and the clerk of the superior court of Baltimore city, shall be by them respectively delivered immediately to the persons to whom such commissions are directed, and who may apply for the same.

Ibid. sec. 64. 1860, art. 18, sec. 49. 1852, ch. 172, sec. 4.

68. The said clerks shall report to the secretary of State, at least once a month, the names and offices of all officers who have taken and subscribed the oaths required by the constitution and laws to be taken before them.

Ibid. sec. 65. 1860, art. 18, sec. 50. 1852, ch. 172, sec. 4. 1856, ch. 154, sec. 93. 69. Each clerk of the circuit court for the counties, and the superior court of Baltimore city, shall, when required to do so by any person, give a certificate, under the seal of his office, of the qualification of any public officer who has taken and subscribed the oaths of office before him, or whose oath of office is recorded in his office.

Ibid. sec. 66. 1874, ch. 483, sec. 139.

70. The clerks of the several circuit courts and of the superior court of Baltimore city shall not administer the oath of office to any officer until he pays the tax on his commission. prescribed by law; and the said clerk shall quarterly, on the first Monday of March, June, September and December, pay to the treasurer all sums of money they shall have received for taxes on commissions.

1888, art. 18, sec. 1. 1860, art. 21, sec. 1.

1852, ch. 106, sec. 1.

1837, ch. 97, sec. 1.

1. The governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall biennially appoint and commission one or more commissioners in each State, district or territory of the United States, who shall have authority to take the acknowledgment and proof of the execution of any deed or other conveyance or lease of any lands, tenements or hereditaments lying in this State, or any contract, letter of attorney, or any other writing, under seal, to be used and recorded in this State.

Ibid. sec. 2. 1860, art. 21, sec. 2. 1852, ch. 106, sec. 1.

2. The said commissioners shall hold their office as other civil officers of this State similarly appointed.

Ibid. sec. 3. 1860, art. 21, sec. 3.

1837, ch. 97, sec. 3. 1852, ch. 106, sec. 3. 1884, ch. 210.

3. Every commissioner so appointed shall take and subscribe an oath before a justice of the peace or notary public in the city or county in which he shall reside, well and faithfully to execute and perform all the duties of such commissioner under and by virtue of the laws of this State, and shall also procure an official seal, a distinct impression of which, taken upon wax or some other substance capable of receiving and retaining a clear impression, together with his signature in his own proper handwriting thereto attached, shall, with the oath of office aforesaid, be transmitted to and filed in the office of the secretary of State.

Ibid. sec. 4. 1860, art. 21, sec. 4. 1837, ch. 97, sec. 2.

4. Every commissioner so appointed and qualified shall have authority to administer an oath to any person desirous to make such oath before him, and such oath shall be as good and effectual as if made before a justice of the peace in this State.

Ibid. sec. 5. 1860, art. 21, sec. 5. 1837, ch. 97, sec. 1.

5. Any acknowledgment made or proof taken before any such commissioner in the manner directed by the laws of this State, and certified to under his seal, and endorsed on or annexed to the deed or instrument of writing, shall have the same effect as if the same had been made or taken before a judge of a court of record of another State.

Ibid. sec. 6. 1860, art. 21, sec. 6. 1852, ch. 106, secs. 4, 5.

6. The secretary of State, immediately upon the receipt of the evidence of qualification of any such commissioner, shall

make a short entry of the same upon the record of appointments or civil list; and a certificate of the governor, under the great seal of the State, to the appointment and qualification of any such commissioner, as appearing from the said record of appointments or civil list, shall be sufficient evidence of the appointment and qualification of such commissioner.

1888, art. 18, sec. 7. 1860, art. 21, sec. 7. 1856, ch. 151, sec. 1.

7. The governor may also, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint one or more commissioners in any foreign country, who shall continue in office during the pleasure of the governor, and shall have authority to take the acknowledgment and proof of the execution of any deed or other conveyance or lease of any lands lying in this State, or any contract, letter of attorney, or any other writing, under seal or not, to be used and recorded in this State.

Ibid. sec. 8. 1860, art. 21, sec. 8. 1856, ch. 151, sec. 2.

8. Every commissioner appointed under the preceding section, before performing any duty or exercising any power in virtue of his appointment, shall take and subscribe an oath before a judge or clerk of one of the courts of record of the kingdom or country in which such commissioner shall reside, well and faithfully to execute and perform all the duties of such commissioner under and by virtue of the laws of this State; which oath, with a description of his seal of office, together with his signature thereto, shall be filed in the executive office of this State.

Ibid. sec. 9. 1872, ch. 350.

9. All commissioners appointed under this article shall pay into the treasury of the State the sum of ten dollars; and no commission shall issue to said commissioners until the comptroller shall report to the governor that the said sum of ten dollars has been paid into the treasury.

1. When to qualify

ARTICLE XIX.

COMPTROLLER.

2. Penalty and condition of bond. 3. Sufficiency of sureties.

4. Approval of bond by governor.

5. Bond; where to be recorded. 6. Renewal of bond.

1888, art. 19, sec. 1. 1860, art. 22, sec. 1. 1852, ch. 172, sec. 3.

1853, ch. 403.

1. The comptroller shall file his bond and qualify, by making the declaration and taking the oath required by the constitution and laws, before the governor, on or before the second Wednesday of January next ensuing his election; on which said second Wednesday of January the term of his office shall