ART. 9.] CHARLES COUNTY. 743

Commissioner shall be filled by the County Commissioners of
Charles county, who shall their successors at the expiration of
their term of office.

159. In case the said engineer shall fail to keep the accounts
or make the reports as herein set forth, or shall wilfully make
false reports and accounts, he shall be liable to indictment
by the grand jury of Charles county; and, if convicted in the
Circuit Court thereof, shall be fined a sum, in the discretion of
the court, not exceeding three hundred dollars, or be impris-
oned for not more than six months, or both fine and imprison-
ment, in the discretion of the court. The road supervisors to
be appointed as herein provided, shall be liable to indictment
for wilful neglect of the duties imposed upon them, or for
malfeasance in office, and, if convicted in the Circuit Court of
Charles county aforesaid, shall be fined, in the discretion of the
Court, not more than three hundred dollars.

160. Whenever any person or persons shall desire to improve
any public road in said county to an extent beyond that con-
templated by the county road engineer, they may make appli-
cation to the Road Commissioners by petition, setting forth
the location of the road to be improved, the extent and charac-
ter of the improvement and the probable cost thereof; and the
said Road Commissioners shall thereupon order the county
road engineer to examine the location and purpose set forth in
the petition; and if he shall be of the opinion that the public
interest will be promoted thereby, he shall report his determi-
nation to the Road Commissioners, setting forth his reasons
for such determination, and an estimate of the cost of such im-
provement, and if the Road Commissioners shall approve the
report of the said county road engineer, they shall direct the
expenditure of any amount not to exceed one-half the total
of said estimate, to be paid out of the road levy or liquor license
fund; provided, that the petitioners for such improvements
shall first pay into the treasury of the county an amount not
less than one-half of said estimate; all of said money to be
expended under the direction of the county road engineer.

160A. It shall be the duty of the Road Commissioners of
Charles county, whenever the office of county road engineer
shall become vacant by death, resignation or removal from
office, to appoint within thirty days from the date of such va-
cancy some person to fill the same, and in the manner and with
the same qualifications as prescribed in section 158 of this Act.

160B. Whenever the county road engineer shall find it neces-
sary to open an outlet or watercourse through private property
in Charles county to secure proper drainage of any public