3084 ARTICLE 14.

to pass orders for the payment for property purchased or condemned and,
for material furnished in pursuance of this Act.

1918, ch. 207, sec. 81Y.

179. The Commissioners of Ellicott City are hereby empowered to
construct and erect an electric light plant for supplying said City with
electric current, and to contract for the purchase in fee simple or lease for
a term of years, renewable at their pleasure, any land, real estate, springs,
brooks, water courses, rights-of-way, etc., and to use and occupy forever,
or for a term of years, any land, real estate, springs, brooks, water courses,
or rights-of-way, which may be deemed necessary for supplying and fur-
nishing said City with electric current, and they are hereby provided and
invested with all the rights and powers necessary for the purpose of sup-
plying and furnishing electric current in said City and its vicinity. If,
for any cause, the Commissioners of Ellicott City shall be unable to agree
with any owner or owners of any real estate, land, springs, brooks, streams,
or water courses or any other material which partakes of real estate, or
for any right-of-way which they may find necessary for conducting said
electric current into and in said City, or if any owner is unable, from
disability or incapacity, to contract with said Commissioners of Ellicott
City, or, absent out of the County or unknown, the said Commissioners of
Ellicott City are hereby clothed with the power of condemnation under
the right of eminent domain as provided for in the public general laws of
this State as fully as if said public general laws had been herein incorpo-
rated, and their manner of procedure for the purposes of this Act shall
in all particulars be the same as is provided by the said public general
laws of Maryland. The said Commissioners of Ellicott City shall have
the power of fixing a schedule of rates for furnishing electric current to
private consumers, subject to the approval of the Public Service Commis-
sion, and to provide for the collection of said charges as other taxes are
collected. The income thereof shall first be applied for the maintenance
of said electric light plant, and afterwards for the payment of interest
accrued on said bonds, and then to the sinking fund to meet the bonds
as they severally fall due. The Commissioners shall also have power to.
appoint or employ the necessary employes or agents to correctly conduct
said electric light plant, and to provide for their rate of compensation.
The City Registrar shall collect all bills for furnishing current to pri-
vate consumers, shall keep a detailed account of all receipts and expendi-
tures arising from said plant, and each year shall submit to the said
Commissioners a detailed statement of the affairs of said plant, which
said Commissioners may advertise, if they shall see fit so to do. The rate
of compensation for said Registrar shall be fixed by the Commissioners.
If the Commissioners shall contract for the construction of said plant,
the contractor or contractors shall furnish a corporate bond guaranteeing
the prompt erection of said plant according to specifications, guarantee-
ing the prompt payment for all material used in said construction and the
prompt payment for all labor used thereon.