LLOYD LOWNDES, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR. 281

discharge of their respective duties, qualify by taking before
the Mayor an oath to faithfully perform the duties of their re-
spective offices, and that they will support the Laws and Con-
stitutions of the United States and of the State of 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 cor-
porate seal attached. All vacancies occurring in any 'of the
offices which the Mayor is empowered to fill, during the re-
cess of the Second Branch, unless otherwise provided in this
Article, shall be filled by the Mayor until the next regular meet-
ing of the Second Branch, at which meeting the Mayor shall
present the name of a person for confirmation to fill said
vacancy, and the mode and manner of procedure in such a case
shall be the same as provided for in this section for other
appointments by the Mayor and confirmation by the Second
Branch.

26. No person shall at any time hold more than one office
yielding pecuniary compensation under the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore. All municipal officials, except females,
shall be registered voters of the City of Baltimore.

27. All heads of departments, heads of sub-departments,
municipal officers not embraced in a department, or special
commissions or boards, provided for in this Article, shall hold
their offices until their successors are appointed or elected and
qualified.

28. The heads of departments, heads of sub-departments,
municipal officers not embraced in a department, and all spe-
cial commissions or boards shall have the sole power of ap-
pointment and removal at pleasure of all deputies, assistants,
clerks and subordinate employees employed by them, unless
otherwise provided in this Article.

29. All heads of departments shall have the privilege of
the floor in the First Branch of the City Council at its sittings,
and shall be entitled to participate in the discussion of matters