EMERSON C. HARRINGTON, GOVERNOR. 1373

his direction for neglect of duty, disobedience of orders or mis-
conduct, but shall, within twenty-four hours thereafter, report
such suspension or discharge with the reason therefor, to the
Commissioner of such department, who shall thereupon, affirm
or revoke such suspension or discharge according to the merits
under the facts of the case. Every officer or employe so dis-
charged or suspended and whose suspension or discharge has
been affirmed, or the officer or person so suspending or dis-
charging a subordinate when such suspension or discharge has
been revoked as the case may be, may, within five days from
the affirmance or revocation of any such suspension or dis-
charge, appeal therefrom to the Civil Service Commission, if
the person taking the appeal was subject to Civil Service,
otherwise to the City Council, and such commission or council,
as the ease may be, shall fully hear and determine the appeal
upon the merits of the case, and if it be determined that any
such suspension or discharge was unwarranted, the appellant
shall be reinstated, otherwise it shall be affirmed. Any such
appeal may be taken by serving upon the proper commissioner
a notice in. writing, within said time, specifying the ruling
appealed from, which notice shall be signed by the person
taking the appeal. A true copy of such notice of appeal shall
be filed with the chairman of the Civil Service Commission or
Mayor as the case may be. Within five days from the service
of such notice of appeal, the proper department commissioner
shall file with the Civil Service Commissioner or City Council,
as the case may be, a written specification of the charges or
grounds upon which revocation or affirmance of the suspension
or discharge appealed from, was based.

Within five days after such specifications are filed as afore-
said, the Commission or Council, as the case may be, shall fix
the time and place for hearing the appeal and notify the appel-
lant in writing of the time and place so fixed, which notice
shall contain a copy of the specifications so filed. The time
for hearing such appeal shall not be fixed earlier than five
days, nor later than twenty days from filing such specifications.
The council and commission shall have the power to enforce
the attendance of witnesses or production of books and papers
and to administer oaths im same manner and with like effect
and under same penalties as in the case of Magistrates exer-
cising criminal or civil jurisdiction under the statutes of
Maryland. The hearing of such appeals shall be public, and
appellant may be represented by counsel.