JOHN LEE CARROLL, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR. 809

in the same manner as mechanics' liens are now en-
forced by law, and upon such scire facias the de-
fendant may rely upon any defence which would
render the imposition of such tax void, or operate
as a discharge thereof, and such scire facias may
issue at any time within three years from the filing
of the statement required by the last preceding sec-
tion ; but any defendant intending to dispute the
validity of said tax, and wishing to test the same be-
fore the expiration of said time, may at any time
after the filing of said statement, give notice to said
Mayor and City Council, in writing, that he disputes
the validity of such tax, and wishes to test the same,
so as to free his property from said lien claim, and
in such case, unless said Mayor and City Council
shall issue a scire facias thereon against said party	When waived
within sixty days after the receipt of such notice,
said lien shall be waived and avoided as against his
property, and in all cases of writs of scire facias
issued under this section, the same shall stand for
trial at the first term of court after issuing thereof;
provided the same shall have been served on the de-
fendant, and a return of such service made by the
sheriff at least ten days before the commencement
of said term ; and upon all judgments rendered in
such cases, there shall be a stay of thirty days, and
no longer ; provided that either party may appeal to the Court of Appeals of Maryland from any rul-
ing or decision of any questions of law decided by
the Circuit Court in such trial ; and in case the de-
fendant shall appeal and file a proper appeal bond,	File appeal
then said stay of thirty days shall be counted from	bond.
the affirmance of such judgment, if the same shall
be affirmed, and not from the date of the judgment
below.
48. The Mayor and City Council shall cause to be
maintained a registration of the legal voters of the	Registration
several wards of said city ; and the registration made
under the authority of existing law shall, together
with such additions, changes and alterations as may
be or become necessary, constitute such registration ;
said registration shall be made and corrected in the	How cor-
manner provided in the general registration law of	rected.
the State, and shall specify the residence of the voters
on each street, lane and alley, and such registration
shall be essential to the right of voting at any elec-
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