1534 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 790]

Ibid. sec. 30.

613. The council shall keep and annually publish a tabular
statement of the receipt and expenditures of the funds of the
corporation and such other matters connected with the govern-
ment and' regulations of the town affairs as they may deem
necessary and proper.

1896, ch. 310, sec. 31.

614. Whenever the council shall, by ordinance, provide for
establishing any public park, or for establishing, opening, wid-
ening, extending or altering any street, avenue, alley, route for
sewer or water pipes, for constructing water, works or for carry-
ing out any other powers granted by its charter, and it becomes
necessary to take private property for such public use, just com-
pensation shall be paid to the owner or owners thereof, which
shall be ascertained and assessed by six disinterested commis-
sioners, who shall be qualified voters of the town, and who shall
be selected by the Mayor; such proceedings shall be conducted
by the Mayor, or in his absence or inability to act, or in case
he be interested, then by some disinterested member of the
council designated by him; and while in the discharge of such
duty the person conducting the same shall have and exercise
the powers of the Circuit Court for the preservation of order
and enforcing process issued in the course of the proceedings
and may summon and compel the attendance of witnesses and
jurors, preside at the investigation, pass on the competency of
evidence, and instruct the commissioners as to the law. (b)
When any ordinance shall provide for taking private property
for any public use, it shall describe said property and prescribe
the limits within which private property shall be deemed bene-
fited by the proposed improvement and be assessed and charged
to pay the compensation therefor, with a description of the
property benefited. The Mayor or member of the council des-
ignated, as above provided, shall thereupon appoint a day and
place for impanneling the commissioners to ascertain the com-
pensation for the property to be taken, and to make assessments
to pay for the same. The town clerk shall then issue a notice
under his hand and the seal of the town, which shall give the
names of the owners at the date of the ordinance of the prop-
erty to be taken and to be assessed for compensation; shall state
the date and purpose of the ordinance, and shall state that their
property will be taken or assessed for compensation for the
taking for the purpose specified in the ordinance, and that com-
missioners will be empanneled to ascertain said compensation
and make such assessment on the day and at the place fixed by
the Mayor or member of the council, as the case may be; said