The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-06-16

batialous shall be elected by the ballots of
the commissioned officers OF the companies
composing said regiments or battalions ali
| Generals of brigades or divisions, shall he
elected by the ballnts of the commanding
officers of the regiments and battalions com.
| prising said brigades or divisions; company
officers shall be elected by the ballots OF the
members of their respective companies /;
provided that at such elections a majority of
the ballots of the qualified voters, shall be
requisite to an election. The commissioned
and non commissioned staff shall be ap.
| pointed by the commanding officer Of the
respective division, brigade, regiment, bat
talon, or squadron non commissioned
officers of companies shall be appointed by
the commanders of their respective compa-
| MES and warrants of non.commissioned
officers shall be issued by their respective
regimental or battalion commanders.
| 10. All commissioned officers Of the Mill
tia shall be commissioned by the Governor
| who may in his discretion, withhold such
commission, in order to determine the quail
ihcatiOn of the person for the Office TO which
he shall have been elected or appointed; and
!; upon reference TO an examining board,
appointed as hereinafter provided, an elect
ed or appointed officer shall be adjudged
unqualified by majority Of said board, then
another officer shall, within ten days after
due notice gwen in writing TO the Adjutant
| General, to whom the presiding office of
said board shall report, be elected or ap.
pointed us provided for by this Article: and
| in default of such election or appointment,
the vacancy shall be filled by the Comman.
| der-in Chief.
IL. Every organized company of volun.
teer Militia may. by a vote of majority Of
| its officers, adopt bylaws, which when ap.
proved by the commanding officer Of the
regiment, battalion, squadron. or battery,
or independent organization to which said
company belongs, and approved by the Ad.
jutant General, shall be binding upon all
the members of such company, provided,
that nothing therein shall be inconsistent
with the Constitution or Laws of this State,
| or OF the United States, or the rules and
regulations prescribed by the Commander.
| Ia Chief; and whenever any fine or penalty
for absence from drill, neglect of duty or
other cause, shall be imposed by virtue of
| such bylaws, the same may be collected by
execution. III the same manner as judgments
rendered by Justice of the Peace, iOr the
use OF said company, upon statement GER
tlhed by the commanding officer thereof,
| showing how, when and for what amount,
| said line or penalty was assessed
II. The Cnmmander-in.C Chief shall pre-.
| scribe such rules, orders and regulations
for the distribution of arms, aceoutrements
and ammunition as he may deem proper, as
| also for the safe keeping and return of all
such property; which rules aud regulations
shall have the force of law.
l3' The Commander.in.C Chief within the
limits Of the appropriations by Act of Gen
eiai Assembly, shall authorize the Adjutant
General to furnish, with the necessary arms
and equipments, such companies of cavalry,
artillery and infantry, when duly organized
under this law, as he may deem necessary
for the proper enforcement of the laws;
and the commanding officer of each com.
pany shall give good and sufficient bond
TO the State Of Maryland, to be approved
by the Adjutant General, for the sale. keep.
ing aud return ofsuch arms aud equipments,
which shall remain and continue to be the
property of the State, to be used for mill
tafy purposes only, and which shall be re.
turned to the State, when called for by the
Commander in Chief; provided, however,
that all arms, ainmunitions, equipments, or
other supplies directed to be furnish, d by
the Governor under the provisions of this
Act, shall be so furnished by contracts made
with the lowest responsible bidder, upon
public notice; and the officer making such
contracts shall certify the account with ex.
plict vouchers, and transmit the same,
countersigned and approved by the Cover,
nor, TO the Comptroller for final settlement,
in the mode and manner prescribed in the
Constitution tor the audit and payment of
claims against the State.
IL. ANY officer receiving arms and equip.
ments or other public property, for military
use, shall be accountable for the same, and
shall not be discharged from his obligations
therefor, until he has properly accounted
for said arms and equipments or other pro-
periy, either by receipt from his successor
In command, or some other officer author.
ized to receive the same, for the article re.
ceived by him, in good order and condition,
reasonable use and wear excepted, or by
satisfactory proof to the Adjutant General
that any article, not so accounted for, has
been properly expended in the service, or
detaced, injured, lost or destroyed, without
any default or neglect on his part; and il
lost defaced or destroyed, through the mis-.
conduct of any person, that reasonable ef.
forts have been made by him to recover or
prosecute for the same; and ii shall be the
duty of the Adjutant General to enter suit
on the bond of any officer, in the name of
the State of Maryland, for the value OF such
property as may have been defaced, injured,
lost or destroyed, alter being received by
him, and which has not been properly ac.
counted for by him as aforesaid and the
officer succeeding to the command of com,
pany shall before being commis stoned, be
required to file bond to the State, as here.
inbeiore prescribed, for the safe. keeping and
return of all property Of the State in the
possession of said company, upon the terms
and conditions imposed upon the officer or
officers by whom said properly was re-
ceived
10. All arms, equipments or other pro.
perty, which may have been furnished to
volunteer companie0, shall when required
by the commanding officers of the company,
battery, battalion, squadron or regiment
be deposited in the armory of said company,
battery, battalion, squadron or regiment,
and failure so to deposit as aforesaid, any
article OF such property by the person to
whom 1t was issued, ten days after he shall
have been notified by written notice from
the commanding officer as aforesaid, to re.
turn it to the armory, shall be punished by
fine of not less than FIVE, nor more than
fifteen dollars, to be recovered as provided
in section eleven Of this Article.
10. Whoever shall wilfully or maliciously
destroy, injnre or deface, any arms or other
article Of military property belonging to the
State, shall be deemed guilty of misde-
meanor and shall be punished by fine not
exceeding double the amount OF the value
OF the property so injured or dehced, to
be recovered on complaint of the eomman.
der OF the company as provided in the nre
ceding section, or by Imprisonment in the
county or city Jail for hot less than two
weeks nor more than two months.