| 1796. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
|
CHAP.
LXVIII.
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and fixing the rates thereof, within the city and precincts, and for
regulating the
sweeping of any chimney, by the neglect of which the safety of the
city may
be endangered; and to ascertain the width of those to be built in the
city; to
establish and regulate fire wards and fire companies; to regulate and
establish the
size of bricks that are to be used in the houses to be built in the
city; to erect
and regulate pumps in the streets, lanes and alleys; to impose and
appropriate
fines, penalties and forfeitures, for the breach of their by-laws or
ordinances;
to lay and collect taxes, not exceeding two dollars in the hundred
pounds in any
one year, except as before is excepted; to enact by-laws for the prevention
and
extinguishment of fire; and to pass all ordinances necessary to give
effect and
operation to all the powers vested in the corporation of the city of
Baltimore;
provided, that the by-laws or ordinances of the said corporation shall
be in no
wise obligatory upon the persons of nonresidents of the said town,
being citizens
of this state, unless in cases of intentional violation of by-laws
or ordinances
previously promulgated; all the fines, penalties and forfeitures, imposed
by the
ordinances of the corporation of the city of Baltimore, if not exceeding
twenty
dollars, shall be recovered before a single magistrate, as small debts
are by law
recoverable, and if such fines, penalties and forfeitures, do exceed
the sum of
twenty dollars, then to be recovered by action of debt, in Baltimore
county
court, in the name of the corporation, and for the use of the city
of Baltimore. |
Powers of the
commissioners
to cease, &c. |
X. And be it
enacted, That the powers and authority vested in the town
commissioners, special commissioners and port wardens, heretofore appointed
by
law for Baltimore-town, except the authority of the town commissioners
to hold
elections agreeably to the constitution and form of government, shall
cease and
determine as soon as this act shall be in force and operation; and
the corporation
of the city of Baltimore are hereby declared to possess, and may provide
for the
exercise of, all powers and authorities now vested in the said town
commissioners,
special commissioners and port wardens, except the holding of elections
for delegates
to the general assembly, but no rights acquired under the acts of the
aforesaid boards shall be annulled, impaired, avoided or restrained,
by any act
of the said corporation; and immediately upon the operation of this
act, and
organization of the corporation contemplated thereby, the records,
papers, proceedings,
monies, accounts, and all other matters and things appertaining to
the
said commissioners of Baltimore, special commissioners and port wardens,
shall
be lodged and deposited with such person or persons as shall be appointed
by
the mayor and corporation of the city to receive the same; and all
acts of the
legislature of the state of Maryland now in force shall continue and
remain in
force, but the powers and authorities thereby delegated to the commissioners
of
Baltimore-town, special commissioners and port wardens, or any other
tribunal
or persons, touching the police of Baltimore-town, or any of its internal
concerns,
shall be and they are hereby transferred and vested in the corporation
hereby constituted, and the said corporation are hereby empowered to
act under
such laws, in the same manner, and as fully, as of the said corporation
had been
particularly named in such laws; the mayor shall, in virtue of his
office, have
and exercise all the jurisdiction and powers of a justice of the peace,
except as
to the recovery of small debts, and may call upon any officer of the
city intrusted
with the receipt and expenditure of public money for a statement of
his accounts,
as often as he or the corporation may conceive it necessary; he shall
see that the
ordinances are duly and faithfully executed, and shall report annually
to the corporation,
during the first five days of their session, a general state of the
city,
with an accurate account of the money received and expended, to be
published
for the information of the citizens; the mayor and corporation of the
city of
Baltimore, the judges and clerks of the elections, and all other officers
of the
city, before they enter upon the execution of their respective offices,
shall severally
take the following oath or affirmation: " I do solemnly swear,
or affirm,
" as the case may be, that I will faithfully execute the office of
-----------
" to the best of my knowledge and ability, without favour, affection
or partiality." |
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