ART. 8.] CECIL COUNTY. 441

may have and use a common seal, which may be broken or
altered at pleasure.

37. All free white male citizens above the age of twenty-one
years who shall have bona fide resided in said town for the space
of six months, and twelve months in this State, next preceding
the election, shall, on the first Monday of May annually, at such
place as shall be designated by the president and commissioners
of said town, elect five judicious and discreet persons who shall
have resided in said town twelve months next preceding the
election, commissioners of said town.

38. Every commissioner so elected, before he acts as such,
shall take an oath before some justice of the peace of the county
that he will diligently and faithfully, according to the best of his
judgment, perform the duties of commissioner of said town
without favor, partiality or prejudice, and a certificate of such
qualification shall be returned by the said justice to the said
commissioners, to be filed among their proceedings.

39. If any of the commissioners, during the year for which he
was elected, shall die, resign, remove from said town or be other-
wise disqualified, an election to fill the vacancy shall be held.

40. If the inhabitants of said town shall at any time neglect
to make an election at the time herein directed, the power of
electing commissioners shall not therefore cease, but the right
and power of said inhabitants in that respect shall continue the
same as though such election had been made, and the president
and commissioners for the time being shall remain in office until
such election shall be held.

41. The commissioners BO elected may meet and adjourn from
time to time as they shall see fit, and shall, at the first meeting
after an election, choose from their own body a president, who
shall preside at all meetings of the commissioners, vote on all
questions before them, and remain in office until superseded by
the appointment of a new president after a new election of com-
missioners.

42. The said commissioners, or a majority of them, may
appoint a clerk and prescribe his duties, and allow him such
compensation as they may think proper; and all ordinances
passed by the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall