738

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

earlier than twenty-one days from the date of the publi-

cation of their said statement, which said election shall be

held under and governed by the forms as far as applicable

of elections now provided for mayor and common council of

Westminster, in eluding the appointment of judges and clerks

of election, at which said election the qualified voters of

Westminster shall determine by ballot whether the contract

or agreement which shall have been made between said

mayor and common council and the said Westminster Water

Company shall be ratified or not at which said election there

shall be written or printed upon the said ballots the words

"For the purchase of Water Company's property," or

"Against the purchase of Water Company's property," as

the voter may choose, and the result of such election shall

be certified in the usual manner of certifying corporate

elections to the mayor and common council of Westminster,

and it a majority of the ballots cast at said election shall

have on them, " For the purchase of water company's

property," then said contract or agreement shall become

immediately operative, binding and in full force ; but should

a majority of said ballots cast have on them "Against the

purchase of water company's property," then this shall be

void and of non -effect.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That upon the consummation of

Rights,

the purchase of the said water company's property, as pro-

franchises,

vided in the previous section, all rights, franchises and pri-

&c.

vileges of the said water company, shall immediately vest

and pass in and to the said mayor and common council of

Westminster and their successors forever, and the said

mayor and common council upon the determination of the

said qualified voters at at any time in the manner provided

in the previous section in favor of purchasing the property

of said water company and the purchase thereof may by

ordinance provided for the payment of the purchase money

in such manner as they shall determine upon and agree with

said water company.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That should such contract and

Power to

agreement be at any time ratified as hereinbefore provided

issue bonds

by the qualified voters of said city, then in that event the

said mayor and common council of Westminster are hereby

authorized and empowered to issue bonds in the name of

the mayor and common council of Westminster in sums not

less than one hundred dollars, nor more thau one thousand

dollars, to be signed by the mayor, and countersigned by

the clerk of said city, not exceeding in the whole the

amount named in such contract for the purchase of said

water works, property and franchises from said water