272 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

be prescribed by ordinance; but no fine shall exceed five hun-
dred dollars, nor imprisonment exceed twelve months for any
offense.

Franchises.

7. The title of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore,
in and to its water front, wharf property, land under water,
public landings, wharves, docks, highways, avenues, streets,
lanes, alleys and parks, is hereby declared to be inalienable.

8. The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore may grant for
a limited time, and subject to the limitations and conditions
contained in this Article, specific franchises or rights in or
relating to any of the public property or places mentioned
in the preceding section; provided, that such grant is in com-
pliance with the requirements of this Article and that the terms
and conditions of the grant shall have first been authorized and
set forth in an ordinance duly passed by the City. Every such
grant shall specifically set forth and define the nature, extent
and duration of the franchise or right thereby granted, and no
franchise or right shall pass by implication under any such
grant; and notwithstanding any such grant the Mayor and
City Council of Baltimore shall at all times have and retain the
power and right to reasonably regulate in the public interest
the exercise of the franchise or right so granted; and the said
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall not have power by
grant or ordinance to divest itself of the right or power to so
regulate the exercise of such franchise or right.

9. No franchise or right in relation to any highway,
avenue, street, lane or alley, either on, above or below the
surface of the same, shall be granted by the Mayor and
City Council of Baltimore to any person or corporation for a
longer period than twenty-five years, but such grant may, at
the option of the City, provide for giving to the grantee the
right, on a fair re-valuation, including in such re-valuation the
value derived from the said franchise or right, to renewals
not exceeding in the aggregate twenty-five years. Such grant
may provide that upon the termination of the said franchise
or right granted by the City, the plant, as well as the prop-