1038 ARTICLE 25

The managers, for the time being, shall annually thereafter in the same
manner call a meeting for the same purpose on the first Saturday of March,
but if the managers for the time being shall have failed heretofore to call
such a meeting or shall hereafter fail to call such a meeting, then the County
Commissioners be and they are hereby authorized and directed to appoint
such managers and treasurer upon proof that no such meeting has been
called by the managers for the time being.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 116. 1920, ch. 507, sec. 81AG.

117. The Board of Managers shall annually, if necessary, and at least
once every two years, cut, clean out and repair such tax ditch or drain
established as aforesaid, for its full length from mouth to source and make
a levy upon the said taxables to pay their pro rata shares of the cost thereof
in manner and form as herein provided. The said Commissioners shall
deliver to the treasurer a statement of the taxes levied for the making of
said ditches with the sums which each person is bound to pay; and such tax
or assessment made and returned to and confirmed by the County Com-
missioners shall remain in full force for a term of twenty years from such
confirmation and shall be the proportion or basis upon which other and
further taxes may be levied by the managers for all necessary purposes for
cutting and making or for cleaning and repairing such ditches. After a
lapse of twenty years a new assessment may be had by application of three
or more of said taxables to the County Commissioners, in which case the
County Commissioners shall have jurisdiction for the purpose of enlarge-
ment, straightening, cleaning out, repairing or extending such ditch or
ditches, or drains, or installing drain tile in such ditches or drains, and shall
thereupon proceed to appoint a Drain Commission of judicious freeholders
as hereinbefore provided, for the locating and opening of a ditch or ditches,
who shall make an assessment and return of their proceedings, in the man-
ner hereinbefore provided, which shall be subject to an order of review as
aforesaid.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 117. 1920, ch. 507, sec. 81AH.

118. The managers selected and chosen as aforesaid shall proceed to
cut, make, open, straighten, enlarge, clean out, and repair and extend, as the
case may be, said ditch or ditches, or drains, or install drain tile located and
laid out, or to be located, laid out or extended as aforesaid and may employ

such contractors, ditchers or laborers, and may purchase, hire or rent
dredges, excavators, machines or explosives, and do such other acts as may

-be necessary for the purpose. They shall keep a regular account of their
expenditures and report the same to the yearly meeting of the taxables. All
payments shall be made by orders drawn by the managers on the treasurer.
The treasurer shall give bonds in the name of the State of Maryland as
obligee, to be approved by the managers, in double the amount of the assess-
ment or taxes he may be authorized to collect and receive, conditional for
the faithful performance of his trust and duty and the payment of any
money, and the delivery of all books, accounts and papers in his possession
belonging to the ditch company in his hands as treasurer over to his succes-
sor at the expiration of his term, and such bond may be sued on by any
person interested as public bonds may. He shall collect all monies levied
for the purpose of cutting, making and opening or for cleaning and repair-
ing the ditch or ditches, or for the payment of damages and expenses; and,