592

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

the time and place so designated for said election, the

judge or judges attending shall have power to fill the

vacancy, and in the event of the failure of all the said

judges so appointed to attend as aforesaid, the mayor shall

designate three persons from those present at the polls to

act as judges of said election.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That the three judges of election

Clerks of
election.

shall appoint two clerks of election; and that said judges

and clerks shall conduct the elections in all respects as the

election for members for General Assembly were required

to be conducted before the adoption of the so-called Austra-

lian system, opening the polls at nine o'clock in the morning,

and closing them at seven o'clock in the evening ; and the

said judges and clerks shall receive such compensation as

shall be provided by the mayor and councilmen of said town.

SEC. 8. And be it enacted. That in case of death, refusal

Vacancy.

to act, resignation or disqualification of the mayor or any

of the councilmen, the councilmen or the remaining council-

men shall direct an election to be held to fill such vacancy ;

and the mayor and councilmen, or remaining councilmen,

shall give at least ten days' notice of all such elections in

one or more newspapers published in said town ; provided,

however, that no election shall be held to fill a vacancy for

a term less than six months, if at least three qualified

councilmen remain.

SEC. 10. And be it enacted, That the mayor and council-

men shall meet at the council chamber on the fourth Tues-

Oath.

day of June next succeeding their election, and the said

councilmen before they enter upon the duties of their office,

make oath before the mayor that they will diligently and

faithfully, to the best of their judgment, perform the duties

of said councilmen of said town, without favor, partiality

or prejudice ; the mayor shall take the oath prescribed by

the constitution as directed by section six of article seventy-

eight of the Code of Public General Laws.

SEC. 11. And be it enacted, That they shall meet at the

council chamber or some other place at least once in every

Meeting oi
council

three months, or oftener if they shall deem necessary, and

the mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council, and

have the same power of voting and taking part in all acts

and deliberations of the council as any member ; and they

shall at their first meeting, annually select one of their

number as president of the council, who, in the absence of

the mayor, shall preside at all meetings of the council, and

in case of a vacancy in the office of mayor from any cause,

the president of the council shall be mayor pro tem., with

all the powers and duties of mayor devolving upon him,

until the vacancy is filled by an election.