252 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

demnation, any and all existing turnpikes or any sections
thereof, or any rights or interests therein, subject to any out-
standing occupation, use or franchise of any electric railway
company or other public service corporations; and thereafter
all highways, however acquired hereinunder, shall be State
highways and shall be constructed, improved and maintained
by said commission for the State and at its expense, except as
provided in section 32B

32D. The said commission, when about to construct or im-
prove in any manner any highway, shall give the County Com-
missioners of each county in which it lies a certified copy of
plans and specifications therefor, and a notice that said com-
mission is about to enter upon and proceed with the work in
question. Said commission shall thereupon advertise for at
least two weeks in one or more newspapers published in each
county in which the highway lies and for three consecutive
issues in at least one daily newspaper published in Baltimore
city, for sealed proposals for the construction or other improve-
ment of said highway, accurately describing the same and
stating the time and place for opening said proposals, and re-
serving the right to reject any and all proposals; said pro-
posals shall be publicly opened at the time specified in said
advertisement, and the contract for such work or for the sup-
plies and materials required for such construction or improve-
ment shall be awarded by the commission to the lowest respon-
sible bidder, unless, in the opinion of said commission the
interests of the State will be better served by awarding the
contract to some other bidder, when this may be done; but said
commission shall not be required so to advertise for proposals
or to award any contract for any work or for any materials or
supplies for any amount less than five hundred dollars ($500)
in the aggregate. The construction and improvement of all
State highways or parts thereof shall be under the supervision
and subject to the approval of the said commission, in accord-
ance with plans and specifications prepared by the chief engi-
neer and approved by said commission. In all cases where
the contract for work and materials shall be given out after
competitive bidding the successful bidder shall promptly
execute a formal contract to be approved as to its form, terms
and conditions by said commission, and shall also execute and
deliver to said commission a good and sufficient bond to be
approved by said commission to the State of Maryland in not
less than the amount of the contract price. To all such bids
there shall be attached the certified check of the bidder, and
the bidder who has the contract awarded to him and who fails
to promptly and properly execute the contract and bond shall