The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-04

| oneep nuSOanufy Is now before we
legislature.
SEC. 1. Be it Enacted 6V the Gen.
erat 4 SSena6ly of Maryland, That the
County Commissioners of each and
every county in the State shall, at
some time prior to the LIST day of
April in each and every year. divide
the Election Districts of their respec-
tive county into as many parts or di
visions as there may be constables APP
pointed in such Districts, and shall
assign one of such divisions to each
Constable, so appointed, for the pur-
poses hereinafter menti1Ded.
Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each constable to
go over the division so assigned to
him and make an inventory of all
the dogs in his division, and also
the property they most frequent as
their home, giving an accurate list of
the number Of dogs to each piece of
property, which said list shall be
made out and returned under oath
to the County Commissioners before
the first day of May of such year,
and at the time of taking such list
said constable shall leave at or upon
the property list of all the dogs
Charged by HIM TO said property,
which list shall stand against such
property unless the party owning the
property shall appear before the
County nrissi0ners within ten
days after said notice and convince
them by evidence that such dogs or
any number thereof have been des-
troyed and the County Commissioners
Shall have power to correct the return
Of the constable3 in their discretion,
and shall allow said cOnstables such
compensation for their service as
they may think proper.
SEC. 8. And be 1t enacted, That up
on the return of such lists by the con.
stable as hereinbefOre provided, the
County Commissioners shall proceed
to fix and appraise value upon each
dog so returned, after having correct
! ed notice as aforesaid, which value
shall be lS25,00 twenty five dollars
for each and every dog, and no less
provided, however, that the owner
may have the privilege of. fixing a
higher valuation upon each dog.
SEC. 4. And be Hendcted, That after
the County Commissioners shall have
appraised and valued said dogs as
aforesaid, they shall cause their APP
praisements to he added to the ASSESS
ments of the party, or parties to whom
the property may then be assessed,
giving to the said assessment all the
dogs charged to said properly by the
constable, which said assessment shall
be treated rs other assessments of
property and he taxed accordingly.
SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That the
party or parties to whom any dog
shall be assessed, shall have the same
rights and title of such dog that he or
they would have in any other prop.
erty, and shall be responsible for all
injuries done by such dog to any
property, whether they be aware Of
his vicious propeneities or not) and
shall he entitled to sue for and re-
cover any damage done to such dog.
provided, however, that they shall
not be allowed to recuyer for any dog
a greater amount than that for which
he is ASSESSED and provided, further,
that no one shall he liable for killing
a dog in self defense or when such
dog is actually engaged in The des-
trurtion of stock or poultry.
SEC. 6. And be ii enacted, That any
one who shall suffer loss or injury tn
stock or poultry Ivy the action of dog
or dogs, shall be permitted to sue the
owner or owners of such dog or dogs
and recover the value of his damages,
or may within ten days from the time
Of the doing of such damage apply To
the County Commissioners and have
the damages valued by two discreet
persons to be selected by said County
Commissioners, and the County Com
missioners shall, upon the return of
their said appOintees. (which return
shall be under Oath) pay to the said
party or parties damaged two-thirds
of the value of his or their said dam
ages as hOwn by said return. upon
the assignment by said damaged par
ty or parties of all his or their claim
tor damages aS aforesaid. to the sai q
County Commissioners, and the said
County Commissioners may then in
their discretion maintain suit in
their name in the same manner as The
assigner might have done, and any
recovery thereon shall he paid into
the Treasury of the county.
SEC. 7. And be IL enacted, That for
any failure 10y constable TO perform
the duties imposed upon him by the
County Commissioners under this act
or for any wililnl error or errors in
mis- return as herein provided for, h.