EMERSON C. HARRINGTON, GOVERNOR. 1461

Section 297. The Mayor shall be a person of known integ-
rity, experience and sound judgment, not less than thirty
years of age, ten years a citizen of the United States, and five
years a resident of the said City next preceding the election,
and for six months next preceding assessed upon the assessment
books of said City with real property to an amount not less
than one thousand dollars, and shall hold his office for two
years, and until the qualification cf his successor.

Section 298. The City Council shall consist of six mem-
bers who shall be citizens of the United States above twenty-
five years of age, residents of said City for three years next
preceding their election, and at the time of their election and
for six months next preceding, be assessed upon the assessment
books of said City with real property to an amount not less
than five hundred dollars, and shall hold their office for two
years (except as hereinbefore provided), and until the qualifi-
cation of their successors.

Section 299. The Mayor and members elect of the City
Council before entering upon the duties of their respective
offices shall each make oath or affirmation before some Justice
of the Peace of Harford County that he possesses the property
and other qualifications prescribed by this Charter for the office
to which he has been elected, and that he will act faithfully,
without favor, partiality or prejudice in all things pertaining
to the duties of his office. And in addition thereto they shall
at the same, time take the oath prescribed by Section 6 of
Article 1, of the Constitution of Maryland. The members of
the Council who shall have taken the oath or affirmation afore-
said, shall meet on the third Monday in May next succeeding
their election, at the usual hour and place of meeting, and the
Mayor elect presiding and having a casting vote in case of a
tie, they shall proceed to elect from their number a President
of the Council, who shall preside at all meetings of the Coun-
cil in the absence of the Mayor, and in case of the death, resig-
nation or removal of the Mayor, shall act as Mayor for the
time being until a Mayor shall be elected to fill the vacancy.

In the event of the failure by the Mayor elect or any mem-
ber elect of the City Council to take the oath above prescribed
on or before the third Monday in May after the election afore-
said, such failure shall be deemed a refusal to act, and the
Mayor and members of the Council elected and qualified, as
the case may be, shall proceed to order a new election to fill
the vacancy; said election shall be held after not less than