DORCHESTER COUNTY. 2173

1900, ch. 339, sec. 50.

54. If any vacancy shall happen in the office of Commissioners by
reason of resignation, death, removal from office, change of residence,
failure to qualify, or otherwise, the remaining Commissioners shall order
a special election to be held in the ward where the vacancy occurs to fill
the unexpired time for which the Commissioner who vacated his office
was elected. In such cases judges of election for said ward shall be ap-
pointed, a polling place shall be designated, and the notice and the date
and the object of the election shall be given, the election shall be held, and
the returns shall be made as provided for by Section 52 and 53 of this
Charter; provided that no special election shall be held to fill a vacancy
within the four months next preceding the date appointed for the regular
biennial election. While a vacancy exists ordinances may be passed with
the concurrence of three Commissioners, as in other cases, and any other
acts may be done and performed by a quorum which may ordinarily be
done and performed thereby.

In elections held to take the sense of the qualified voters of the town
in respect to the passage of any contemplated ordinance or ordinances, the
several Commissioners in their respective wards shall act as judges of
election without pay, and one clerk shall be appointed.

OFFICIAL OATHS.

1900, ch. 339, sec. 51. 1904, ch. 395, sec. 51.

55. All officers of said town, except the Mayor, whether elected or ap-
pointed, before they enter upon the duties of the office to which they are
elected or appointed, shall take the oath required by Article 1, Section 6,
of the Constitution of Maryland, before the Mayor, who is hereby author-
ized to administer all official oaths and to administer an oath to any person
who may desire to give testimony before the Commissioners, or who may
be summoned by the Commissioners, on any subject, if the Mayor or two
Commissioners shall demand that such testimony be given on oath, and
any person who shall refuse or fail to appear when summoned, or who
shall refuse to answer any relevant or pertinent question, or who shall
answer falsely any question, or make any false statement on oath before
the Commissioners or a majority of them, or before the Mayor, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof before any justice of
the peace, or in the Circuit Court for Dorchester County, shall be fined
not less than one hundred dollars and costs, and shall be confined in the
Maryland House of Correction until both fine and costs are paid. In
addition to the oath prescribed above, every officer shall also take an oath
that he will well and faithfully, without fear or favor, partiality or preju-
dice, perform the office of (here insert the official title) to the best of his
knowledge and ability, according to law.