40 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 13

380J. Whenever the plans and specifications for water
supply, sewerage or drainage systems for the sanitary dis-
trict shall have been completed and the Commission shall
have decided after opportunity for a hearing has been given
to proceed with the construction thereof, it shall advertise,
by notice in one newspaper published in Allegany County
and such newspapers and technical press as it may deem
proper, for bids for the construction of said system or sys-
tems, in part or as a whole, as in its judgment may appear
advisable. The contract shall be let to the lowest responsible
bidder, or the Commission may reject any and all bids, and,
if in its discretion the prices quoted are unreasonable or
unbalanced, it may readvertise the work or any part of it
or may do any part or all of the work by day labor; pro-
vided that at any time the Commission may, in its discre-
tion, expend by day labor for construction work an amount
not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1, 000. 00) without
advertising or receiving bids. All such contracts shall be
protected by such bonds, penalties and conditions as the
Commission may require, all of which shall be enforced in
any court having jurisdiction.

380K. For the purpose of paying the interest and prin-
cipal of the bonds issued as in this sub-title provided
for the water supply, sewerage or drainage systems to
be constructed, purchased or established under this sub-
title, the said Commission is hereby empowered to estab-
lish a proper and reasonable charge for connection with
said water supply, sewerage and drainage system so to be
constructed, purchased or established as aforesaid, and to fix
an annual assessment on all properties, improved or un-
improved, binding upon a street, road, lane, alley or right-
of-way in which a water main, sewer or drain has been
built. The said annual assessment shall be made upon the
front foot basis, and the first payment shall be collected
during the year in which the construction is completed on
the water supply, sewerage or drainage systems, or in which
the systems are purchased or acquired. The said Commis-
sion for the purpose of assessing benefits shall divide all
properties binding upon a street, road, lane, alley or right-
of-way, in which a water pipe or sanitary sewer is to be
laid, into four classes, namely: Agricultural, small acreage,
industrial or business, and sub-division property, and the
Commission may sub-divide each of said classes in such" man-
ner as it may deem to be in the public interest. Whenever
any water supply or sewerage project in said sanitary dis-
trict shall have been completed by March 31st, in any one
year, regardless of when said construction was commenced,
then the said Commission shall fix and levy a benefit charge
as of the first day of January in which the project was com-