A. W. BRADFORD, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

130

the time being, or whosoever may be lawfully act-
ing in that capacity ; the said Commissioners shall
be citizens of the United States, and shall have
been residents of said city for the period of twelve

Eligibility of
Commissioners

months next preceding their appointments ; they
shall, except as hereinafter specified, hold their
offices for four years, and until their respective
successors shall have been appointed and qualified,
and shall receive each a salary of two thousand

Tenure of
office.

dollars per annum, payable quarterly ; before en-
tering on the duties of their said office, the said
Commissioners and the said Mayor, shall take and
subscribe before the Judge of the Superior Court
of Baltimore city, or the Clerk thereof, the oath or
affirmation prescribed by the fourth section of the
first Article of the Constitution, and shall also
take and subscribe before the same Judge or Clerk
the further oath or affirmation, that in any and
every appointment or removal to be by them made
to or from the police force created and to be or-
ganized by them under this Article, they will in
no case and under no pretext, appoint or remove
any policeman, or officer of police, or other per-
son under them, for or on account of the political
opinion of such policeman, or officer, or other
person, or for any other cause or reason than the
fitness or unfitness of such person, in the best
judgment of the said Mayor or Commissioners, for
the place to which he shall be appointed, or from
which he- shall be removed ; and shall take and
subscribe before the same Judge or Clerk, the

Commission-
ers required to
take oath, &c.

further oath or affirmation, as follows : I do sol-
emnly swear (or affirm,) that I will support, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution and Government
of the United States, against all enemies, whether
domestic or foreign, and that I will bear true faith,
allegiance and loyalty to the same, any ordinance,
resolution or law of any State Convention or
Legislature, to the contrary notwithstanding ; and
further, that I do this with a full determination,
pledge and purpose, without any mental reserva-
tion or evasion whatsoever, so help me God ;" and
the said oath (or affirmation,) shall be recorded

Further oath
rescribed.

and preserved among the records of said court.
The Register of the city of Baltimore for the time
being, shall be and act as the Treasurer of the
Board of Police, and his official bond given as
Register of the city of Baltimore, shall stand and

Treasurer —
his duties, &c.