1904.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 1091

during the first six months of their respective terms,
the heads of all departments or members thereof, heads
of sub-departments or members thereof, municipal
officers not embraced in a department, and special
commissions or boards, or members thereof, appointed
by him, but after six months, the Mayor shall only re-
move said official for cause, after charge is preferred
against him, notice given and trial had before the
Mayor. The term of all municipal officials appointed
by the Mayor shall be four year unless otherwise pro-
vided for in this Article.

All municipal officials who are appointed by the
Mayor, shall be appointed in. the month of December
succeeding his election and enter upon their respec-
tive offices on the first Monday in January, imme-
diately following their respective appointments, or as
soon thereafter as their appointments have been con-
firmed, as above provided, if appointed or confirmed
subsequent thereto, but the Mayor chosen on the
Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1906,
shall appoint said officials in the month of September,
subject to confirmation by the Second Branch of the
City Council, and they shall enter upon their duties
on the succeeding first of October, and shall hold
office until their successors under the provisions of
this Article are appointed and qualified, unless sooner
removed under the provisions of this Article; all per-
sons appointed by the Mayor as well as those muni-
pal officials elected by the people or by joint conven-
tion of the City Council, shall, before entering upon
the discharge of their respective duties, qualify by
taking before the Mayor an oath to faithfully perform
the duties of their respective offices, and that they
will support the laws and Constitution of the United
States, and of the State or Maryland; a test book shall
be kept by the Mayor, which shall be signed at the time
of taking the oath aforesaid, by said officials, and after
the qualification aforesaid, the Mayor shall issue to the
said officials a commission signed by himself, with the
corporate seal attached; all vacancies occurring in any
of the offices which the Mayor is empowered to fill, dur-
ing the recess of the City Council, unless otherwise
provided in this Article, shall be filled by the Mayor