498 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 345]

enter upon and proceed with the work in question. Said com-
mission shall thereupon advertise for at least two weeks in
one or more newspapers published in said county, and for
three consecutive issues in at least one daily newspaper pub-
lished in Baltimore City, for sealed proposals for the con-
struction or other improvements of said highway, accurately
describing the same and stating the time and place for open-
ing said proposals, and reserving the rights to reject any and
all proposals; said proposals shall be publicly opened at the
time specified in said advertisement, and the contract for
such work or for the supplies and materials required for such
construction or work or for the supplies and materials required
for such construction or improvement shall be awarded by the
commission to the lowest responsible bidder, unless, in the
opinion of said commission, the interests of the county shall
be better served by awarding the contract to some other bidder,
when this may be done; but said commission shall not be
required so to advertise for proposals or to award any contract
for any work or for any materials or supplies for any amount
less than two thousand and fifty dollars in the aggregate. The
construction and improvement of all highways or parts thereof
so undertaken to be constructed or improved as part of the
system aforesaid shall be under the supervision and subject
to the approval of the chief engineer of said commission, in
accordance with plans and specifications prepared by said chief
engineer and approved by said commission. In all cases where
the contract for work and materials shall be given out after
competitive bidding, the successful bidder shall promptly exe-
cute a formal contract to be approved as to its form, terms
and conditions by said commission, and shall also execute
and deliver to said commission a good and sufficient bond
to be approved by said commission to the State of Maryland in
not less than the amount of the contract price. In no case
shall any such bond be approved or accepted unless the obligors
bind themselves therein to the payment of all just debts for
labor and materials incurred by the bidder in the construction
and improvement of the road contracted for. To all such bids
there shall be attached the certified check of the bidder, and
the bidder who has the contract awarded to him and who fails
to promptly and properly execute the contract and bond shall
forfeit the said check. The said check shall be taken and con-
sidered as liquidated damages, and not a penalty, for failure
of said bidder to execute said contract and bond. Upon the
execution of said contract and bond by a successful bidder his
check shall be returned to him. The amount of said check shall