1160 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

the assessment books, they shall give notice to the party or
parties concerned to appear and show cause, if any they have,
why the said property and improvements should not be entered
on the assessment books, as they have valued the same. If
the party or parties fail to appear, or if on appearance they
fail to show cause to the satisfaction of the Council, the
Council shall cause the said property or improvements to be
entered on the assessment books at such value as they think
proper and right, and the facts shall be noted on the minute
book. And in each year, at least twenty days before the gen-
eral levy is made, the Council shall sit on three successive
days to correct the assessment, as well as to pass upon all
bills and accounts against the town for current expenses during
the preceding year; they shall give notice of said sitting at
least twenty days before the first day thereof, either by hand-
bills posted in a number of conspicuous places in said town or
by advertisements published in some newspaper printed in
said town; they shall at said sittings hear application for
a change in any assessment already entered in the assessment
book, and they may in advance notify any person or persons
to show cause why their respective assessments shall not be
changed. They may also give notice to any party or parties
that they propose to assess him, her or them with property not
on the assessment book or for improvement made to property.
In all cases affecting property already on the assessment book
where applications have been made or notice has been given of
proposed changes the Council shall have authority to increase
or diminish any assessment as may seem right to them. And
the Council shall have power to administer oatb.s to any person
or persons coming before them in relation to the assessment of
property or to any other witness produced before them, said
oath to be administered by any one of the Councilmen; and in
case of disagreement among the Councilmen the concurrence
of the majority of them shall be necessary for the passage or
adoption of an assessment or any other matter, and in the
matter of assessment of property and changing assessments
or re-valuing the same as well as in the matter of passing bills
against the town for its current expenses, the action of the
Council shall be valid without the- approval of the Mayor. And
the Mayor and Council may provide for an entire new assess-
ment of the taxable property of the town once in ten years,
but not oftener. Service of any sort required by this Act to
be made on any firm may be made on any member thereof, and
on any corporation or association or any director or other
officer thereof.