| CHARLES RIDGELY, OF HAMPTON, ESQ. GOVERNOR.
sixteen wards; and when it shall have increased to one hundred and
sixty thousand, the said city shall be divided into eighteen wards; and
when it shall have increased to two hundred thousand, the said city
shall be divided into twenty wards; and it shall be the duty of the corporation
to correct the divisions from time to time, so as to preserve,
as accurately as may be, an equal number of inhabitants in each ward. |
1817.
CHAP. 148. |
2. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the annual session
of the city
council of Baltimore shall hereafter commence on the first Monday
of January, two thirds of each branch shall be a quorum to do business;
and all persons holding offices under the corporation of the
said city, shall, unless otherwise provided by acts of assembly, or
by ordinances of the city, be understood to hold such offices during
the pleasure of the mayor; and the mayor of the city shall nominate,
and by and with the advice and consent of a convention of
the two branches of the city council, shall appoint all officers under
the corporation, except the register of the city, and the clerks employed
by the city, or under their authority; the register shall be
appointed by a convention of the two branches of the city council,
biennially; to be commissioned by the mayor, removable nevertheless,
at pleasure, by a convention of the said two branches; but vacancies
in office happening in the recess of the sessions shall be filled
as heretofore. |
Annual session—
Quorum—Appointment
of officers. |
3. AND BE IT ENACTED, That from and after
the thirtieth day
of September next, the number of electors of Mayor shall be the
same as the number of wards in the city; and for the purpose of
accomplishing more effectually the objects intended by the act*, entitled,
An act providing for the appointment of bailiffs for the city
of Baltimore, the bailiffs of the said city, whose appointment shall
be made in the manner of other city officers, and whose number
shall not be less than five, may exercise all the powers, be entitled to
all the emoluments, and shall perform all the duties of constables,
within the limits of the city, provided that they shall first take the
oaths, and execute the bonds, (with security satisfactory to the
mayor,) which are prescribed by law for constables. |
Electors of mayor
to be equal to
the number of wards
—Bailiffs. |
4. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the mayor and city
council of
Baltimore shall have power to lay out and collect direct taxes on the
assessments of private property within the city, to such amount as
shall be thought necessary for the public or city purposes; and may
enforce the collection of all dues and impositions, (except fines,
penalties and forfeitures,) in the same manner as is now provided
with respect to city taxes; and tenants in possession shall be liable
to the payment of taxes imposed upon premises occupied by them,
without its operating, however, to alter the nature of contracts between
landlords and tenants. |
Direct taxes. |
5. AND BE IT ENACTED, That in case any person,
called upon
to pay any tax, due or imposition, levied or imposed by the said
corporation, shall deny their right to impose or collect the same,
the collector shall not proceed to enforce the payment thereof, by
distress and sale of the party's goods, provided such person shall,
before the time of such distress or sale of goods distrained therefor,
go before a justice of the peace within the city, and with one good
security, resident of the city and satisfactory to the justice, and
shall confess judgment to the mayor and city council of Baltimore,
in double the sum demanded, with a condition annexed to the certificate
of the confession of judgment, that if the said mayor and |
Persons refusing to
pay tax, how to be
proceeded against. |
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