472 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

tion, malconduct, malfeasance or non-feasance in office, or such
other causes as may be prescribed by ordinance, after due
notice in writing, and opportunity to be heard in his defense,
under the rules and regulations hereinafter set forth. That
whenever charges are preferred in writing under oath, and
filed with the Mayor, by any person, against such officer, for
any or all of the offenses named or provided for as above, it
shall be his duty to have the accused duly served with a copy
of such charges, and shall set a day to inquire into the truth of
such charges, and shall notify the accused, and any other mem-
bers of said City Council, and the witnesses for and against
the accused, to be present, and the said Mayor and City Coun-
cil shall constitute a court, to try and determine said case, and
are hereby invested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and
determine said charges, and may continue the investigation
from day to day, upon proper showing, to enable the accused
or prosecutor to get material evidence before said City Coun-
cil. The accused shall have the right to be heard in person or
by counsel, and the said Mayor and City Council shall likewise
be represented by counsel, if they desire it. Upon the conclu-
sion of the investigation and argument of the cause a vote
shall be taken on each charge and specification, and if a ma-
jority of all the members of the said Mayor and City Council
vote to sustain either of the charges against the accused, said
Mayor and City Council shall enter, or cause to be entered, its
judgment, in which shall be recorded the vote of each member
of the City Council, upon the several charges and specifica-
tions, and an order shall be entered, removing the accused
from his office and declaring the same vacant, but if the vote
is otherwise, the accused shall be declared "not guilty" and
judgment entered accordingly.

SEC. 125. The fiscal year for the City of Cumberland shall
begin on the first day of April in each and every year. All
books required to be kept by the several officers as hereinbefore
provided, shall be procured by the Mayor and City Council,
and the same, together with all papers pertaining thereto,
shall be the property of said city, and shall be returned to said
Mayor and City Council by the officer or officers required to
keep the same, at the end of their term.

SEC. 126. All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations
now in force in the City of Cumberland, and not in conflict
with the provisions of this Act, shall remain in force, under
this Act, until altered, amended or repealed by said Mayor
and City Council, after this Act takes effect. It is especially
provided that whenever in this Act bonds are required to be
given by the various officers therein named, the said Mayor