ART. 9.] CHARLES COUNTY. 487

73. The free white male citizens of the village of Port Tobacco
aforesaid, above twenty-one years of age, who shall have re-
sided in said village for the space of four months, and twelve
months in the State, next preceding the election, shall on the
third Monday in April in each year, at such house as shall be
designated as the Town Hall by the said municipality, elect five
discreet persons commissioners for the said village, who shall
have resided within the limits of said village for at least twelve
months next preceding the election.

74. All elections shall be held and conducted as shall be from
time to time directed by the by-laws of the corporation, the
same not being inconsistent with the provisions of this charter.

75. Every commissioner elected, before he shall proceed to
execute the duties of his office, 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
duty of commissioner of the said village, without favor, par-
tiality or prejudice, and a certificate of such qualification shall
be made and returned by such justice of the peace to the said
commissioners, to be filed and recorded among their pro-
ceedings.

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office until superseded by the appointment of a new president,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

77. If any of the commissioners so elected shall die, resign,
or remove from said village, or be otherwise disqualified, during
the year for which he may be elected, an election -to fill the
vacancy shall be held, at which all persons qualified to vote at a
regular election shall be entitled to vote.

78. If the citizens of said village neglect at any time to make
an election, at the times herein required, the power of electing
commissioners shall not therefore cease: bat the right and power
of said inhabitants of said village, in that respect, shall continue
the same as though such election had been made, and the presi-