ART. 23.] WICOMICO COUNTY. 1119

ficate of their qualifications, which may be ratified, or re-
jected, or altered and amended, in whole or in part, by said
Mayor and Council; provided, that the Mayor and Council shall
give ten days' notice, at least, by publication in one of the
newspapers published in said city, or by ten days' notice, at
least, in writing to each property owner so interested, of the
time set for final action on return of said examiner, and said
Mayor and Council shall act on said return within twenty days
after the expiration of said notice, and may issue a new com-
mission as in their judgment may seem proper, and before ac-
tually proceeding to open, widen, extend, straighten or close
any such street or alley the Mayor and Council shall pay or
tender to the person, his agent, guardian or representative
the amount of damages so awarded; and if anyone should feel
aggrieved by the decision of the Mayor and Council in any
matter affected by their decision, he may appeal to the Circuit
Court of Wicomico county by giving written notice within
twenty days from said decision filed with the clerk of the
Council of his desire to appeal; and on the filing of the said
notice it shall be the duty of the said clerk to deliver the papers
connected therewith to the clerk of said court, and the same
proceedings shall be had on appeal as in the case of appeal
from judgments of justices of the peace; provided, neverthe-
less, that the Mayor and Council may decline to open, lay out,
extend, widen, grade or straighten any street, alley or high-
way or any square, waterway or drain, notwithstanding the
decision of said court; but in case of refusal so to do they
shall be liable for all costs incurred, and shall pay the same.
All benefits assessed by virtue of the above provisions shall
be liens on the respective lots or parcels of ground on which
they are assessed from the time of the final ratification of
the aforesaid return, and shall be collected as taxes are col-
lected, or may be collected by action at law. On appeal the
court or jury may alter the award so returned, whether of dam-
ages or benefits, and award costs in its discretion. On final
ratification of any report of a commission appointed under the
provisions of this section, the clerk to the City Council shall
at once record in a book kept for that purpose the said re-
turn, plat and all proceedings connected therewith. And if
for any reason the person to whom damages are awarded re-
fuse to receive the damages assessed, or from infancy or any
other cause are prevented from receiving and receipting for
same, the damages so assessed shall be deposited in some bank
of Salisbury paying interest on deposits, if any, to the credit
of the person entitled to such damages, and thereupon the