966 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

prohibit the said Highway Commission from the building or
repairing of such bridges, where all the cost will not exceed
two hundred dollars; at the time specified in said advertise-
ment for presentation of sealed bids or proposals, the same
shall be publicly opened in the County Commissioners' office of
Prince George's county, with the right in said Highway Com-
mission to reject any or all bids; provided, however, that in
awarding contracts they shall be awarded to the lowest respon-
sible bidder, who shall be required to give bond in such penalty
not exceeding double the cost of the building or repairing of
such bridges; and the said Highway Commissioners are hereby
prohibited from awarding contracts for such work, unless the
proper bond is filed, which in all cases shall accompany the
bid; in the event of a failure of any bidder to receive the con-
tracts contemplated by this Act, the said bonds shall be re-
turned to such unsuccessful bidder, to be cancelled or dis-
posed of as they shall see fit. Whenever any contractor shall
notify the Highway Commission that such bridge is com-
pleted or repaired, said Highway Commission or its agent shall
inspect the work, and if the same has been completed in con-
formity with the plans and specifications thereof, the same
shall be reported to the Highway Commissioners as a board,
and when accepted by it the same shall then be reported to the
Board of County Commissioners, and said bridges or bridge
shall then be opened for travel, and the contractor shall be
entitled to receive any monies then due him on account of said
contract.

SEC. 290. It shall be the duty of said Highway Commission
to have, as far as practicable, all roads constructed, re-con-
structed or repaired in said county, to be done by contract,
under sealed bids, to be opened publicly after due advertise-
ment, and for the purpose of having the necessary clerical
force to carry out the provisions of this Act the said Highway
Commission is authorized and directed to pay respectively to
the clerk and auditor to the County Commissioners of Prince
George's county the sum of two hundred dollars each per
annum for such clerical services, and the said Highway Com-
missioners shall each of them receive for the performance of
the duties hereby imposed the sum of two hundred dollars per
annum, to be levied and paid by the County Commissioners
of Prince George's county. It shall be the duty of the said
Highway Commission to meet in the office of the County
Commissioners at Upper Marlboro at least once a month
between the first of April and the first of October, in
each year, and report to the board, as a board, the work done
and performed and the cost thereof, and the members of said