1450 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 507

Police Examiners shall last and be in effect for one year from
the date the said graded lists and nominations were furnished
and made as herein provided, and null and void after the expi-
ration of twelve months, unless said graded lists and nomina-
tions are sooner exhausted by appointment, promotion or rejec-
tion by the Police Commissioner; provided that the persons
whose names shall be remaining on said graded lists or in
nomination at the expiration of a year as aforesaid shall be
eligible for re-examination and shall have opportunity to secure
a place on the next subsequent graded list to be made up for the
grade or position to which he was eligible prior to the expira-
tion of the graded list containing his name as above stated.

And provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall
apply to the graded lists already before the said Police Com-
missioner, but that the graded list and nominations for the
grade of captain, detective and lieutenant heretofore furnished
and made shall expire on Dec. 31, 1922, and the graded lists
and nominations for the grade of sergeant on Sept. 30, 1922,
and the graded lists and nominations for the position of proba-
tioner on March 31, 1922; in the preparation of the graded
lists, the said Board of Police Examiners shall ascertain by
open competitive examinations the relative qualifications of the
respective candidates for appointment or promotion and shall
place the names of the accepted candidates upon said graded
lists in the order of their relative qualifications so ascertained
by such competitive examinations; the examinations shall be pub-
lic and practical in character and relate to those matters which
shall fairly test the relative capacity and fitness of the persons
to discharge the duties of the position in the said police force
to which they desire appointment or in which they seek promo-
motion, including their past record on the force. The graded
lists shall always be open to the inspection of the public.

745F. In the appointment, promotion, reduction in rank,
transfer or removal of any police officer or officers of police,
or any detective by the Police Commissioner for the City of
Baltimore, and in his administration of the Police Department
of Baltimore City, ecclesiastical and party ties shall not be re-
garded, so that the Police Department of said city may be en-
tirely out of the field of political and religious differences, con-
troversies and influences. The said Police Commissioner for
the City of Baltimore shall confirm or reject all nominations
for appointment or promotion of police officers and officers of
police made to him hereinbefore provided by the Board of Po-