ST. MART'S COUNTY. 4325

said property and to be collectible as taxes are collectible under this char-
ter ; to provide for and regulate licenses, or permits for all exhibitions and
shows within said corporation, or to prohibit or restrain them; and to
regulate and provide for a tax on dogs and bitches; and to provide for
and prevent the running at large of all horses, cattle, hogs, geese, chickens,
and other fowl, upon the streets or within the limits of said town; to pro-
vide by ordinance for condemning, laying out, opening, extending and
making new streets, or alleys, and for altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up, in whole or in part any existing street
or alley, and for removing trees, posts and other obstructions, and for
laying out public squares, drains, water-courses and sewers, and all bene-
fits or damages done, suffered or incurred by the laying out, opening and
making of new streets or alleys, or by altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up, in whole or in part, any existing street
or alley, or laying out public squares, drains, water-courses or sewers
shall be determined by three distinterested persons, residents of said town,
appointed by the Commissioners of Leonardtown, who shall take an oath
before some Justice of the Peace that they will fairly, without par-
tiality or prejudice, value and assess the loss and damages to be suffered
and incurred by any person interested, also to estimate the benefits that
may accrue therefrom to each interested person. They shall locate bound-
aries and prepare an explanatory map giving description of street or alley
opened, closed, extended, widened, straightened or improved or public
square drain or sewer located and established, with each separate lot or
parcel of ground deemed to have sustained damages or received benefits,
and they shall within thirty days, return to the Commissioners such maps,
together with the amount of damages awarded such owner or occupant, and
the amount of benefits assessed to any lot or the owner thereof, together
with a certificate of their qualification, which may be ratified or rejected,
or altered or amended, in whole or in part, by the Commissioners of Leon-
ardtown. The said Commissioners shall pay or tender, to the person, his
agent, guardian or representative, the amount of damages so awarded by
them, and if any one should feel aggrieved by the decision of the Commis-
sioners, who is in any manner affected by their decision, he may appeal
to the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County, by giving written notice
within twenty days from said decision, filed with the Treasurer of said
Commissioners, of his desire to appeal; and on the filing of said notice
the Commissioners shall cause to be delivered the papers connected there-
with to the clerk of said court, and the same proceedings shall be had on
the appeal as in cases of appeal from judgments of justices of the peace;
provided, nevertheless, that "The Commissioners of Leonardtown" may
decline to open, lay out, extend, widen, grade or straighten any street, alley,
or highway or improve or construct any public square, drain or sewer, not-
withstanding the decision of the court; but, in case of refusal to do so,
they shall be liable for all costs incurred, and shall pay the same. On
appeal the court or jury may alter the award so returned, whether the
damages or benefits, and award costs in its discretion and benefits assessed