PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. 4099"

livery, including the assessment and levy of the taxes, were regularly and
validly taken; that the land was subject to taxation; that the taxes had
not been paid before the sale; that the property had not been redeemed;
and that the deed vested in the grantee an absolute title according to its

tenor.

(M) If any person claiming title under a tax deed made as hereinbe-
fore provided, shall be defeated in any suit or proceeding by or against
him for the recovery of the land purporting to be conveyed by such tax;
deed, the successful claimant shall be adjudged to pay him the full amount
paid by the purchaser at the tax sale, with interest at the rate of fifteen
per centum per annum on the total amount thus paid, also to the amount
of all taxes and assessments, State, county and municipal, general or spe-
cial, paid by the purchaser, his heirs or assigns, after the date of the
certificate of purchase, and interest thereon at six (6) per centum per
annum. Such judgment shall be a lien on the land in controversy.

(N) Any person or persons holding a certificate of taxes representing
the purchase at State and county tax sale in either Montgomery or Prince-
George's County of any property advertised for delinquent taxes due the
Town of Takoma Park, Maryland, and covering the same fiscal year, upon
presentation of said certificate to the Town Treasurer and payment to
him of the amount of such advertised delinquent taxes on or before the
day of sale (in case such taxes have not been paid) shall be entitled to
and issued a certificate of taxes by the Town Treasurer. Said certificate
of taxes shall be evidence of the purchase of said property in accordance
with the provisions of this section and shall entitle the holder to all the
rights and privileges thereof.

1929, ch. 169, sec. 12.

958. (A) The Council is authorized and empowered whenever in its
judgment, the public health, safety, or comfort requires it, to grade, con-
struct, reconstruct, pave or otherwise improve any street, sidewalk, alley
and public highway, or parts thereof, at such time and to such extent
and of such materials and in such manner as shall be provided by ordi-
nance and to lay water mains and sewers in said town and to pay the
costs of all such work and assess said cost, or any part thereof, against
the abutting property as hereinafter provided in this section.

(B) Before entering upon the construction of any work or improve-
ment specified herein, the Council shall by ordinance designate the loca-
tion, extent and kind of work or improvement proposed to be done or made,
the kind of materials to be used, the estimated cost of the improvement
and the real property which will be specially benefited thereby and which
it is proposed to assess to pay all or any part of the cost thereof, and shall
fix a time and place when and where the owner or owners of the property
to be so assessed therefor can be heard in reference thereto. Notice of such
hearing, embodying the substance of said ordinance, shall be served upon
the owners of said properties by mailing a copy thereof to their last known
postoffice address of record and by publishing said notice two times in