478 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

stalments as the Highways Commission may elect, and shall
be paid out of the special road fund for the respective dis-
tricts. If any road supervisor shall die, resign or be removed
for cause as aforesaid, his place shall be filled by the High-
ways Commission within thirty days after such vacancy shall
occur.

341. All matters pertaining to and affecting the public
highways, roads, bridges, streets and alleys of the county shall
be under the general control and supervision of said Highways
Commission, which Commission is hereby given power to enter
into and make any and all contracts for material, machinery
and implements for such public highways, and to employ or
direct the employment of so many and such agents, superin-
tendents, foremen, inspectors, assistants, mechanics and labor-
ers as may be found necessary for the proper care and main-
tenance of the same, and to fix the rate of compensation thereof.
Said Highways Commission shall have full power to determine
how the roads of the county and any special road or roads
thereof may be worked, repaired and maintained, and to regu-
late the wages that shall be paid employees engaged in such
work and the prices to be paid for material to be used on the
same, and to provide for such clerical or other assistants as
may be required by it or the Roads Engineer of the county
for the efficient performance of their several duties. Such
Commission shall have the power to let out the repair or
maintenance of any road or portion of a road by contract,
when in the judgment of said Roads Engineer such course is
deemed advisable, in which case preference shall be given
where practicable to the owners of land directly interested in
the proper care of such road or roads, and such work shall
be done under the supervision of the road supervisors of the
district. Whenever any taxpayer of the county shall offer
to haul stone or other hard material upon any public road of
his district at the price paid for the same on such road or in
such locality, the Highways Commission or road supervisor of
the district shall give such taxpayer the preference, provided
such stone or other hard material is in condition for spreading
on the road when hauled, if so required by the Highways Com-
mission or road supervisor for the district, and that its quality
is approved by the Roads Engineer for use on the road upon
which it is proposed to be used. All contracts made by the
Highways Commission for the repair or construction of roads
or bridges or for materials to be used on the roads, shall be
reduced to writing, and all payments thereunder shall be sub-
ject to the approval by the Roads Engineer of the work done
or materials furnished under such contract. Whenever work