1606 PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. [ART. 17.

justice of the peace resident of the town; and the clerk may
either be sworn by one of the judges or before a justice of the
peace resident in the town; and a certificate of every such oath,
signed by the person administering the same, respectively, shall
be annexed to the polls; and the commissioners of Laurel are
vested with power and authority to pass all ordinances necessary
and proper for the manner of making the election returns, and
the failure of the judges of election to attend at the time ap-
pointed for holding any election, and the manner and time of
destroying the said election returns.

1878, ch. 468.

199. The commissioners shall qualify and take possession of
their office by the second Wednesday in May succeeding the elec-
tion ; and a failure to qualify within the time herein prescribed,
shall be deemed a refusal on the part of the party failing to
accept the office, whereupon a new election shall be proclaimed
to fill the vacancy occasioned thereby.

Ibid.

200. They shall be judges of the qualification of their own
members, and may provide by ordinances for contested elections.

Ibid.

201. The said commissioners, at their first meeting after said
election, shall choose one of their number president of the com-
missioners, whose duty it shall be to preside at all their meetings,
to preserve order and give instructions to the clerk and bailiff,
by their direction; and in the absence of the president, they may
appoint some member to fill the chair temporarily, and perform
all other duties deemed necessary to carry into effect the pro-
visions of this charter.

1870. ch. 260.

202. They may meet together from time to time as often as
occasion may require, upon the business of the town, and not less
than once every month; and if in the year for which they may
be elected any of the said commissioners shall die, resign, remove
from the town, or be otherwise disqualified, an election to fill the