ART. 8.] ROADS. 873

shall be appointed from the political party opposite in opinion
to the majority of the county commissioners; and on the
second Tuesday of December in every year the county commis-
sioners shall appoint one road commissioner each for the first,
second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh election districts, to
serve for three years from the first day of January of the follow-
ing year; and one road commissioner each for the eighth and
ninth election districts, to serve for two years from the first day
of January of the following year; said appointments to be eo
made that there will always be in each election district one com-
missioner from the minority political party; and in case of a
vacancy from death, resignation, removal, inability or refusal of
any road commissioner to act, the county commissioners shall fill
said vacancy by appointment for the unexpired term; but if any
road commissioner shall be only temporarily disabled, though
prevented from the performance of his duties, his office shall not
be deemed vacant, and he may select one of the other commie-
ioners in the election district to act in his place; and no road
commissioner shall become the supervisor of any road.

1886. ch. 63.

315. The said road commissioners shall reside in the road

districts for which they are appointed; and when they shall have
received their commissions from the clerk of the county commis-
sioners, shall subscribe to the following oath or affirmation before
the said clerk or any justice of the peace in Cecil county: " I,

road commissioner for the —— election district of Cecil

county, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will well and faith-
fully discharge all the duties imposed upon me by law, and

endeavor earnestly and honestly, without fear, favor or affection,
"to so administer my office as to promote the public welfare, so
"help me God," which shall be attached to each commission, and

a copy filed in the office of the county commissioners; and the

county commissioners shall contract for keeping the public roads
in Cecil county in good repair—the contracts in each case to be
made for a term not exceeding three years—and in like manner
they shall, prior to the expiration of every three years thereafter,
make new contracts for the same work; said contracts to date
from the first day of April of the year in which they shall be