4882 ARTICLE 22.

gas, electricity or otherwise, of the streets, alleys and highways of the town,
and to levy taxes for the payment of any debt or obligation incurred by
or under any such contract or contracts; and said Burgess and Commis-
sioners are hereby further authorized and to grant the use of the streets,
-alleys and highways of said town and to regulate the use of the same in
the erection of any equipment for such lighting of the town, as well as to
grant the use of the streets, alleys and highways of said town to any person
or persons, corporation or corporations, for the purpose of securing light-
ing and power for domestic and manufacturing purposes, and to regulate
the use of the same in the erection of any equipment for such lighting or
furnishing of power for domestic or manufacturing purposes, and to regu-
late the price to be charged for light or power so furnished; provided, said
grant, franchise or contract be ratified by the qualified voters of said town
as hereinafter provided.

1908, ch. 565, sec. 295G (p. 1072). 1910, ch. 104, sec. 295G (p. 1182).

608. The said Burgess and Commissioners are hereby authorized and
empowered to enter into any contract with any person or persons, corpo-
ration or corporations, for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of
said town with water for domestic purposes and to regulate the price to
be charged therefor, as well as to contract with any person or persons,
corporation or corporations, for supplying the town with water for pro-
tection against fire, and to levy taxes for the payment of any debt or obli-
gation incurred by or under any such contract or contracts; and the said
Burgess and Commissioners are hereby further authorized and empowered
to grant the use of the streets, alleys and highways of said town and to
regulate the use of the same in the erection of any equipment and in the
laying of any water pipes for said purposes; provided said grant, fran-
chise or contract be ratified by the qualified voters of said town as herein-
after provided.

1908, ch. 665, sec. 295H (p. 1072). 1910, ch. 104, sec. 295H (p. 1182).

609. No grant, franchise or contract entered into or made under any
of the three preceding sections shall be binding or of any force until after
the same shall have been ratified by a majority of the qualified voters of
said town; voting at an election to be held not less than twenty nor more
than sixty days from the date of any such grant, franchise or contract,
notice of which election shall be given and of the purpose thereof, for at
least ten days prior to the date of holding such election, by publication in
one or more newspapers published in Washington County, Maryland; such
election shall be by ballot, and the ticket at such election shall be marked
"For Proposed Proposition" and "Against Proposed Proposition," and if
at any such election the number of ballots cast marked "For Proposed
Proposition" shall exceed the number of ballots cast, marked "Against
Proposed Proposition," the said grant, franchise or contract shall thereby
be ratified and confirmed; if at any such election the number of ballots cast
marked "Against Proposed Proposition" shall exceed the number of bal-
lots cast marked "For Proposed Proposition," the said grant, franchise