626

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

constitutional sense, of the franchise or right in the exercise

of which such obstruction had its origin, the Mayor and City

Council of Baltimore, acting by and through the agency of

said commission, shall be empowered to secure the condem-

nation of such franchise or right in the manner provided for

in Section 3 of this Act. The preceding provisions of this sec-

tion shall likewise be applicable to any such obstruction in,

over or under the public highways of any county of this State

into which said sewerage system shall extend. The duty and

Private drains

cost of adjusting or removing private drains and sewers in

and sewers.

Baltimore City which shall block or impede the progress of

said sewerage system when in progress of construction and

establishment, shall rest upon and be borne by the Mayor and

City Council of Baltimore exclusively.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That all work done or supplies or

Work costing
over a cer-

materials purchased in carrying out the purposes of this Act

tain sum to be
done by con-

when involving an expenditure of five hundred dollars or more

tract.

shall be by contract, awarded to the lowest responsible bidder,

in accordance with the provisions of Sections 14 and 15 of

Article 4, entitled "City of Baltimore," of the Public Local

Laws of Maryland, except that said commission shall discharge

the duties imposed upon the Board of Awards by said sections ;

provided, however, that said commission shall be empowered,

if it see fit, to insert in the specifications for any such work

reasonable and lawful conditions as to hours of labor, wages

and the residence or character of workmen to be employed

by the contractor, and especially, so far as may be practicable,

in the judgment of said commission, such reasonable and law-

ful conditions as will tend to confine employment on such work.

in whole or in part, to permanent and bona fide residents of

the State of Maryland only; and provided, however, also that

said commission with the consent of three-fourths of all its

members may itself do any part or parts of any such work

under such conditions in every respect as it may prescribe,

by day labor, whenever the chief engineer, in writing, shall

recommend that course ; in which event the said commission.

in addition to its other powers in the premises, shall likewise

be authorized to devise, promulgate and enforce such rules

and regulations as will make merit and personal fitness, ascer-

tained by some system of open competition or registration or

Tests of eligi-
bility for po-

both, the sole tests of eligibility for all positions or employments

sitions.

under its control, which it may see fit to embrace within the

scope of said rules and regulations, which, however, may be

limited to permanent and bona fide residents of this State in