924 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 636]

under its streets, alleys or highways, and the charges for enter-
ing same; to grant and regulate franchises to electric light com-
panies, power companies, gas companies, telephone companies,
telegraph companies, street railway companies, water compa-
nies, sewer or drain companies, and any other which they deem
advantageous and beneficial to said city or the inhabitants
thereof, and to regulate the charges for service of such com-
panies as now possess or may hereafter obtain franchises in
said city; all such franchises shall be for a definite terms of
years not exceeding twenty-five years, and be renewable at the
discretion of the Mayor and Council, and shall specially set
out the nature, right and duration of same, and no power or
right not expressed in the franchise or grant shall pass there-
under; and the Mayor and Council, notwithstanding anything
that may be set out in any such franchise or grant, shall not
have the power to divest itself of the right to regulate and
control the use of the rights under any franchise granted or
that may be granted by it, and to fix and regulate the charges
for service whenever they deem the public interest may require
it; to regulate the keeping of dogs in said city and to provide
for taxes thereon and to provide for the collection of same
as other City taxes collected and to provide that any person
or persons owning a dog or dogs and refusing or neglecting to
pay such tax within twenty days after notice thereof shall be
deemed of a disdemeanor, and on conviction thereof before a
justice of the peace, shall be fined not less than one or more
than ten dollars and be committed to Jail until the fine and
costs are paid; to provide for killing of dogs on which no
taxes are paid; to provide for the protection of all public prop-
erty, cemeteries and property of all public service companies
or corporations and for any franchise, easement or privilege
hereafter granted the Mayor and Council may charge for such
franchises, easements or privileges when granted, and may
charge an annual rental upon any franchise, easement or privi-
lege for using the streets, highways, and sidewalks of said
city that hitherto has been granted or may hereafter be granted;
to punish and suppress tramps and vagrants by imposing fines
or both fines and imprisonment, or by hard labor on the streets
of the city, and to abate by appropriate ordinance all nuisances
in said city which are so defined at common law, by this Act or
by laws of the State of Maryland, whether the same is herein
specifically named or not. The Mayor and Council of Salis-
bury are further authorized generally to pass all necessary by-
laws and ordinances not contrary to law for preservation of
health, comfort, convenience, morals, cleanliness, peace and