590 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

to the particular thing to be selected by said board, shah
be advisory only, and not binding upon said board; provided,
however, that nothing in this Act relative to alternative
bidding shall apply to the Annex Improvement Commission
created by chapter 274 of the Acts of 1904, providing for the
annex loan subsequently approved by the people of Baltimore
city. Bids when filed shall be irrevocable. The successful bid-
der shall promptly execute a formal contract to be approved as
to its form, terms and conditions by the City Solicitor, and he
shall also execute and deliver to the Mayor a good and sufficient
bond to be approved by the Mayor in the amount of the con-
tract price. To all such bids there shall be attached a certified
check of the bidder upon some clearing house bank, and the
bidder who has had the contract awarded to him, and who fails
to promptly and properly execute the required contract and
bond shall forfeit said check. The said check shall be taken
and considered as liquidated damages, and not a penalty, for
failure of said bidder to execute said contract and bond. Upon
the execution of said contract and bond by the successful bid-
der, the said check shall be returned to him. The amount of
said check shall be five hundred dollars, unless otherwise pro-
vided by ordinance, or an order or regulation of the department
for whose use the bids are made and contract entered into. The
checks of the unsuccessful bidders shall be returned to them
after opening the bids and awarding the contract to the success-
ful bidder.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this Act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved March 30, 1908.

CHAPTER 131.

AN ACT to repeal section 35 of article 4 of the Code of Public
Local Laws of Maryland, title "City of Baltimore," sub-title
"Charter," relating to the City Register, and to re-enact said
section with amendments so as to provide for the removal
from office of the City Register under certain conditions.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That section 35 of article 4 of the Code of Public Local
Laws of Maryland, title "City of Baltimore," sub-title "Char-
ter," be and the same hereby is repealed and re-enacted with
amendments so as to read as follows:

35. The City Register shall be the head of the second sub-
department of finance, and he shall be the register of the pub-
lic debt and also the custodian of all moneys belonging to the