520

LAWS OF MARYLAND.
VACANCIES AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

Vacancies
and special
elections.
How made.

50. If any vacancy shall happen in the office of Commis-
sioners by reason of resignation, death, removal from office,
change of residence, failure to qualify, or otherwise, the
remaining Commissioners shall order a special election to be
held in the ward where the vacancy occurs to fill the unex-
pired time for which the Commissioner who vacated his
office was elected. In such cases judges of election for said
ward shall be appointed, a polling place shall be designated,
and the notice and the date and the object of the election
shall be given, the election shall be held, and the returns
shall be made as provided for by Sections forty-eight and
forty-nine of this charter; provided that no special election
shall be held to fill a vacancy within the four months next pre-
ceding the date appointed for the regular biennial election.
While a vacancy exists ordinances may be passed with the
concurrence of three Commissioners, as in other cases, and
any other acts may be done and performed by a quorum
which may ordinarily be done and performed thereby.

In elections held to take the sense of the qualified voters
of the town in respect to the passage of any contemplated
ordinance or ordinances, the several Commissioners in their
respective wards shall act as judges of election without pay,
and one clerk shall be appointed.

OFFICIAL OATHS.

Official oaths.

51. All officers of said town, whether elected or appointed,
to wit: the Mayor, the Commissioners, the Town Clerk and
Treasurer, the Town Collector, the Chief Bailiff, the Sub-
bailiff, the Policeman, the Judges of Election, the Clerks of
Elections and the Health Officers shall severally take the oath
of office prescribed by the Constitution and laws.
The Mayor shall appear before the Clerk of the Circuit
Court of Dorchester County, and shall make the declarations
and take the oath prescribed for him to make and take. The
other officers shall take the oath which belong to their
respective offices and before the official as prescribed in the
sub-title. But if no particular form of oath is prescribed
herein, and no official is designated for administering the
same, such oath shall be taken before a justice of the peace,
and the following is in substance the form of the oath that
shall be administered, and such oath shall be administered in
due form of law: "That he will, well, truly and faithfully
perform the duties of (here insert official title) to the best of
his ability and judgment, without fear or favor, partiality o
prejudice, according to law.