1694 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

direction of the Chief Engineer of Baltimore as herein pro-
vided. He shall be the arbiter of all questions and controver-
sies that may arise between any of the said sub-departments or
between the engineers of said sub-departments, and his decision
shall be final. He shall have power to call together for con-
sultation, whenever he deems it advisable, the Highways Engi-
neer, the Water Engineer, the Harbor Engineer, the City Sur-
veyor, and the Engineer of each of the other sub-departments
above mentioned, or the chief engineer of any of said sub-
departments having more than one engineer. Upon request of
any sub-department, or the head or engineer thereof, or any
other party in interest, he shall call together the engineers
above mentioned to discuss and give their opinions upon any
engineering question that may arise or be presented for his
determination; and, in the event of any controversy between
any of the sub-departments or the engineers thereof, he shall
give opportunity to both sides to be heard before said board of
engineers; but after such hearing, and after hearing the opin-
ions of said engineers, the decision of the matter shall be made
by the said Chief Engineer. Whenever, because of sickness,
temporary absence from the City, or other disability, or under
the stress of conflicting engagements or other reasonable neces-
sity, the Chief Engineer of Baltimore shall be unable to dis-
charge any duties or exercise any power imposed or conferred
upon him in person in his primary capacity as Chief Engineer
of Baltimore, by law or ordinance, he shall be and is hereby
authorized to delegate in writing, subject to the approval of the
Mayor, the discharge of such duty or the exercise of such power
to such one or more of his chief subordinates as he may select.

There shall be connected with said Department of Public
Improvements a Board of Public Improvements, composed of
the Chief Engineer of Baltimore, the Highways Engineer, the
Water Engineer, the Harbor Engineer, and the Inspector of
Buildings. This Board shall be for consultation and advice.
It shall have no power to direct or control the duties or the
work of any sub-department under this Department. It shall
perform such other duties as may be required of it by ordi-
nances not inconsistent with this Article.

86. The Highways Engineer, who shall be the head of
the first sub-department of Public Improvements, shall be
appointed by the Mayor in the mode prescribed in Section 25
of this Article, and hold his office as therein provided. He
shall have control and supervision of the streets, highways,