408

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

	President, who shall preside at all meetings of the Board, when present give directions to the Clerk and Bailiff, by the advice of the Commis- sioners or a majority of them, and superintend such improvement of the town as may be ordered by the Commissioners, and in the absence of the President the Commissioners may appoint some member of the Board to fill the Chair temporarily.
Clerk and bailiff.	136. The said Commissioners shall appoint a clerk, who shall keep the minutes of their pro- ceedings in a well bound book, to be provided by them for that purpose ; and they shall also ap- point a bailiff to said town and prescribe his duties, and shall pay the said clerk and bailiff such com- pensation as they may deem reasonable and just, and may remove either of said officers at pleasure.
Remove nui- sance.	137. The said Commissioners shall cause to be removed all nuisances and obstruction that may interrupt the passage, or injure the health of the inhabitants of said town, from the streets, lanes and alleys, and may provide for the mending and improvement thereof.
Prohibit.	138. They may prohibit the firing of guns or pistols in said town, and may prohibit the tumul- tuous and irregular meetings of idle and dissolute persons, and shall give general directions to the bailiff to disperse the same by fair and lawful means.
Tax dogs.	139. The said Commissioners may provide for levying and collecting annually a tax of fifty cents on every dog and one dollar on every bitch within said town, and the killing of every dog and bitch whose owner cannot be ascertained, or whose owner shall refuse to pay said tax, or who shall fail to do so within one month from the time he shall be first called upon to do so.
Penalty.	140. The said Commissioners may impose such fines, penalties and forfeitures for breach of their ordinances as they may think proper, not exceeding five dollars for any one offence, and may pass all ordinances necessary to give effect and operation to the powers vested in them.
Public grounds.	141. The public grounds in said town shall be vested in said Commissioners, so far as to preserve the same, and prevent depredations thereon, and