Sec[Section] 1 Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented in the General Assembly; That, it shall be the duty of each circuit judge within his judicial circuit, in each county, to appoint a competent and qualified person to be a master in Chancery in such county; who shall take an Oath to support the constitution of this state and of the United States, and also an oath that he will faithfully perform the duties of his office; Which oath may be taken and subscribed before any justice of the peace of the county.

Sec 2 That the said Masters in chancery, within their respective counties, shall have power to order the issuing of writs of Habeous corpus, ne exeat and injunction in the absence of the judge presiding in such county; and they shall perform such other services in aid of the courts of chancery, as are usual by the practice of the courts of chancery to be performed by them. They shall also, when a writ of ne exeat or injunction is about to be ordered to be issued by them approve of the security.

Sec 3 The said Masters in Chancery shall be entitled to the sum of One dollar for each application for a writ of injunction or ne exeat to be paid by the party applying in the first instance and then taxed as other costs against the unsuccessful party.

Sec 4 For the services of the said Masters in chancery concerning references to and reports made by them they shall be entitled to such reasonable compensation as shall be allowed by the circuit court of the county to be taxed as other costs.