724

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 401

condemnation of such franchise or right in the manner pro-
vided for in Section 3 of this Act.

SEC. 5. And be it. further enacted, That all work done, or

Work to be
done by
contract.

supplies or materials purchased, in carrying out the pur-
poses of this Act, when involving an expenditure ,of five hun-
dred ($500) dollars or more, shall be by contract awarded to
the lowest responsible bidder, in accordance with the pro-
visions of Sections 14 and 15 of Article 4 (entitled " City
of Baltimore,") of the public local laws of Maryland; pro-
vided, however, that said commission shall be empowered, if
it see fit, to insert in the specification for any such work
reasonable and lawful conditions as to hours of labor, wages,
and the residence or character of workmen to be employed
by the contractor, and especially so far as it may be practi-
cable in the judgment of said commission such reasonable
and lawful conditions as will tend to confine employment on
such work, in whole or in part, to permanent and bona fide
residents of the State of Maryland only; provided, however,
also that said commission, with the consent of all its mem-
bers, may itself do any part or parts of any such work under
such conditions in every respect as it may prescribe, by day

Proviso.

labor, whenever the chief engineer in writing shall recom-
mend that course; provided, however, that in that event said
commission shall, among its other powers in the premises,
be empowered to devise, publish and enforce such rules and
regulations as will make merit and personal fitness, ascer-
tained by some system of open competition or registration,
or both, the sole tests of eligibility for all positions or
employments under its control which it may see fit to
embrace within the scope of said rules and regulations,
which, however, may be limited to permanent and bona fide
residents of this State in any particular. Any and all bids
or parts of bids for any such work or supplies or materials
may be rejected.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That in order to provide

Stock to be

issued.

money for the work to be done by said commission under
this Act, as and when portions of such work are from time
to time being done, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore
is hereby authorized to. issue the stock of said corporation
to an amount not exceeding $5,000,000, said stock to be
issued from time to time and in such amounts as the Mayor