ART. 22. ] COUNTIES AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

207

3. The number of county commissioners in each county shall be
as fixed by the code of local law for each county.

Id s 3
1853, c 372,
1854, c 297
Number of

4. They shall meet in their respective counties within sixty days
after their election, and qualify by taking the oaths required by law,
and shall meet once a quarter, and as much oftener as the necessities

Id B 4
1853, c. 239, s 4
When to meet
and qualify

of the county may in their judgment require; provided, however,
that the meeting to make the annual levy of taxes shall be held pre-
vious to the first day of July in each year.

Proviso

5. They shall levy all needful taxes on the assessable property
within the county liable to taxation, and provide for collecting the
same, and they may make such levy in whole or in part by estimate;
they shall provide for the support of the courts, compensate jurors
and county or State witnesses, levy for out pensions allowed by
themselves or the trustees of the poor, and such sums as may be
necessary to pay accounts allowed by them for the funeral expenses
of paupers, and pay and discharge all claims on or against the county
which have been expressly or impliedly authorized by law.

Id s 5
1853, c 239, s 2,
1817, c 78, 1823,
c 62, 1835, c
307
To levy and pro-
vide for collec-
tion of taxes
12 Md 341, 20
Md 449, 44 Md 1

6. They shall allow no claim against the county not properly
chargeable to the same, and to which the claimant shall not produce
a legal voucher.

Id s 6.
1794, c 63, a 11
Allowance of
claims.

7. The county commissioners of any county in this State, in
awarding any contract for work to be done, and in agreeing and
contracting for the doing thereof, shall make every such contract in
writing, and shall require and demand of the party or parties with
whom said agreement or contract is made, full and ample security,
by bond, for the true and proper performance of said work in ac-
cordance with the terms and specifications of said agreement or
contract.

1870. C 333, s 102.
Contracts to be
in writing and
secured by
bond.

8. It shall not be lawful for any county commissioner, during his
term of office, to hold, possess, purchase, or acquire any share or
interest in any agreement or contract made, entered into, or con-
cluded with any party or parties whomsoever, by the county com-
missioners of his county, in their character and capacity as such
commissioners, or to have, receive, enjoy, or participate, either
directly or indirectly, in any of the benefits, profits, or emoluments
of any such agreement or contract.

1870, c 333, 8. 103
Not to have any
interest in con-
tracts

9. 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 any 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.
10. d If any county commissioner shall violate any of the provi-

1870, 0 333
Shall not hold
claim againt
county.

sions of the two preceding sections, he shall be liable to indictment,
and, upon conviction, shall forfeit his office, and shall also forfeit
his share in the agreement, contract, or claim, as aforesaid, as the
case may be.

Penalty.