FREDERICK COUNTY. 2477

charge of their respective duties, qualify by taking before the Mayor an
oath to faithfully perform the duties of their respective offices. A test
book shall be kept by the Mayor which shall be signed at the time of
taking oath aforesaid by said officials. All vacancies occurring in any of
the offices which the Mayor is empowered to fill shall be filled by the
Mayor until the next regular meeting of the board, when the Mayor shall
present the name of a person to fill such vacancy, and the mode and
manner of procedure in such case shall be the same as provided for in
this section for other appointments by the Mayor and confirmation by the
Board of Aldermen, but the person first appointed by the Mayor to fill
the vacancy shall hold the office until there has been a confirmation by the
board unless sooner removed by the Mayor himself.

OATH OF OFFICE.

1898, ch. 1, sec. 173. 1918 Code, sec. 246.

223. The Mayor, the City Register, the Aldermen, and all other officers
of said city, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices,
shall severally take the following oath of office: "I solemnly swear that
I will faithfully execute the office of.......................... to the

best of my knowledge and ability, without favor, affection or partiality."
The Mayor, City Register and Aldermen shall qualify before the Clerk
of the Circuit Court for Frederick County, or before one of his sworn
deputies; all other officers of said city shall qualify before the Mayor,
who shall keep a full and correct record of all official oaths administered
by him in a well-bound book provided especially for that purpose, which
book shall be one of the public records of his office, and shall at all times
be open to public inspection.

ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
189S, ch. 1. 1904, ch. 295. 1908, ch. 57, sec. 245. 1918 Code, sec. 246.

224. All property, real, personal and mixed, that may be within the
corporate limits of Frederick City and all property that may have a situs
within the limits of said city by reason of the residence of the owner
therein, and all money belonging to residents of Frederick City which
shall be the proceeds of the sale of stocks, bonds or other property disposed
of for the purpose of evading and escaping taxation, shall be subject to
taxation for municipal purposes provided, that no authority is given by
this section to impose taxes on any property which is now or may here-
after be exempt from taxation by any special or general Act of the General
Assembly of Maryland; and provided, further, that the assessment and
taxation of ail stocks, bonds, evidences of debt and certificates of indebted-
ness shall be made in accordance with the existing general laws of the
State of Maryland relating to revenue and taxes.

1908, ch. 57, sec. 245A. 1918 Code, sec. 247.

225. The Mayor shall at such time as shall be prescribed by ordinance
appoint such number of assessors as the ordinance shall direct, subject to