1036 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 507

fifty dollars and upwards, six votes; and any taxable so en-
titled may vote by proxy, authorized by writing, under his
hand.

A majority of the taxables shall be a quorum for the pur-
poses aforesaid; but if a majority of the taxables refuse or
fail to meet, upon the notice being given as aforesaid for any
regular election, or for the purpose of filling a vacancy, then
in either case the County Commissioners, upon proof that the
required notice has been given, shall be authorized and are
directed to appoint such managers and treasurer.

The managers, for the time being, shall annually thereafter
in the same manner call a meeting for the same purpose on the
first Saturday of March, but if the managers for the time being
shall have failed heretofore to call such a meeting or shall
hereafter fail to call such a meeting, then the County Com-
missioners be and they are hereby authorized and directed
to appoint such managers and treasurer upon proof that no
such meeting has been called by the managers for the time
being.

81AG. The Board of Managers shall annually, if necessary,
and at least once every two years, cut, clean out and repair such
tax ditch or drain established as aforesaid, for its full length
from mouth to source and make a levy upon the said taxables
to pay their pro rata shares of the cost thereof in manner and
form as herein provided. The said Commissioners shall deliver
to the treasurer a statement of the taxes levied for the making
of said ditches with the sums which each person is bound to
pay; and such tax or assessment made and returned to and
confirmed by the County Commissioners shall remain in full
force for a term of twenty years from such confirmation and
shall be the proportion or basis upon which other and further
taxes may be levied by the managers for all necessary purposes
for cutting and making or for cleaning and repairing such
ditches. After a lapse of twenty years a new assessment may
be had by application of three or more of said taxables to the
County Commissioners, in which case the County Commission-
ers shall have jurisdiction for the purpose of enlargement,
straightening, cleaning out, repairing or extending such ditch
or ditches, or drains, or installing drain tile in such ditches or
drains, and shall thereupon proceed to appoint a Drain Com-
mission of judicious freeholders as hereinbefore provided, for
the locating and opening of a ditch or ditches, who shall make