574

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

nevertheless, that the owner or owners of property shall be
responsible for said tax in case the same cannot be collected
from the occupants thereof; and the council may pass suitable
ordinances to enable said scavenger to remove all filth from
the town, and may require of said scavenger a bond for the
faithful performance of his duties; provided, however, that
said special tax shall not exceed one dollar per month on any
one house, to be paid by the owner or occupant thereof, as
aforesaid.

Annual state-
ment.

30. The council shall keep and annually publish a tabular
statement of the receipt and expenditures of the funds of the
corporation and such other matters connected with the govern-
ment and regulations of the town affairs as they may deem
necessary and proper.

31. (a.) Whenever the council shall, by ordinance, provide for
establishing any public park, or for establishing, opening, wid-
ening, extending or altering any street, avenue, alley, route
for sewer or water pipes, for -constructing water works or for

Taking
private
property
for public
use.

carrying out any other powers granted by its charter, and it
becomes necessary to take private property for such public
use, just compensation shall be paid to the owner or owners
thereof, which shall be ascertained and assessed by six disin-
terested commissioners, who shall be qualified voters of the
town, and who shall be selected by the Mayor; such proceed-
ings shall be conducted by the Mayor, or in his absence or
inability to act, or in case he be interested, then by some dis-
interested member of the council designated by him; and
while in the discharge of such duty the person conducting the
same shall have and exercise the powers of the circuit court
for the preservation of order and enforcing process issued in
the course of the proceedings, and may summon and compel the
attendance of witnesses aud jurors, preside at the investigation,
pass on the competency of evidence, and instruct the com-
missioners as to the law. (b.) When any ordinance shall
provide for taking private property for any public use, it
shall describe said property and prescribe the limits with-
in which private property shall be deemed benefited by the
proposed improvement and be assessed and charged to pay
the compensation therefor, with a description or the prop-
erty benefited. The Mayor or member of the council desig-
nated, as above provided, shall thereupon appoint a day
and place for impanneling the commissioners to ascertain the
compensation for the property to be taken, and to make assess-
ments to pay for the same. The town clerk shall then issue a