1012 ARTICLE 25

participate, either directly or indirectly, in any of the benefits, profits or
emoluments of any such agreement or contract.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 18. 1912, sec. 17. 1904, sec. 17. 1888, sec. 17. 1870, ch. 333.

19. It shall not be lawful for any county commissioner, during his term
of office, to accept, hold, purchase or acquire any claim on or against the
county of which he is a commissioner, or any share or interest in such
claim, which said claim has been or is to be passed upon and approved by
the board of county commissioners of which he is a member.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 19. 1912, sec. 18. 1904, sec. 18. 1888, sec. 18. 1870, ch. 333.

20. If any county commissioner shall violate any of the provisions of
the two preceding sections, he shall be liable to indictment, and, upon con-
viction, shall forfeit his office, and shall also forfeit his share in the agree-
ment, contract or claim, as aforesaid, as the case may be.

Bonds of County Officials.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 20. 1912, sec. 19. 1906, ch. 413.

21. When any county treasurer, tax collector, county commissioner or
any officer coming within the common meaning of a county official, in giv-
ing the bond required of him by law, shall furnish a bond executed by a
surety company, authorized by the laws of the State of Maryland to execute
such bonds, and such bonds shall be approved, then in each and every such
case the county may pay the premium for such bond, not in any instance to
exceed one-half of one per cent, per annum of the penalty of the bond so
executed and approved; upon the execution and approval of any such
bond the county commissioners may direct the payment of such premium
on such bond from the general fund of the county in the same manner as
is prescribed for the payment of general county debts; provided, however,
that when any such bond is given by a clerk of court, register of wills,
state's attorney or sheriff, the payment of the premium on said bond shall
be charged as an expense of any such officer.

Sheriff, being state officer, County Commissioners not liable for premium on his
bond. Talbot Co. v. Carroll, 172 Md. 386.

Bridges.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 21. 1912, sec. 20. 1904, sec. 19. 1888, sec. 19. 1856, ch. 308, sec. 2.

1906, ch. 249.

22. All applications for building and repairing bridges shall be made
by petition to the county commissioners.

Mandamus will not lie to compel county commissioners to repair a bridge, since
this section gives a right of petition, and from the action of the commissioners thereon,
an appeal may be taken to the circuit court—see sec. 35. Bembe v. Anne Arundel
County, 94 Md. 330; Anne Arundel County v. Baltimore Sugar, etc., Co., 99 Md. 488.

This section was repealed as to Prince George's County by the act of 1900, ch. 346.
Blundon v. Crosier, 93 Md. 359. (See also act 1910, ch. 90.)

For a discussion of secs. 22 to 37, see Bembe v. Anne Arundel County, 94 Md. 331.

Cited in connection with the local act of 1865, ch. 14, the latter being held uncon-
stitutional. Somerset County v. Pocomoke Bridge Co., 109 Md. 5.

Cited but not construed in Miles v. Stevenson, 80 Md. 367.

As to bridge companies, see art. 23, sec. 152, et seq.

As to bridges, including those over Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and Bear
Creek, see art. 89B, sec. 50, et seq.