ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 213

periods of time for which they were appointed as provided for
in Chapter 678 of the Acts of 1916 of the General Assembly
of Maryland, and on the first Monday in April, 1922, and on
the first Monday in April biennially thereafter, the said Mayor
and City Council shall appoint one Civil Service Commissioner
to serve for a term of six years, so that the said Board of Civil
Service Commissioners shall always consist of three members.

The Chairman of the Commission for each biennial period
shall be the member whose term first expires. No person, while
on the said commission, shall hold or be a candidate for any
office of public trust. Two of said members shall constitute a
quorum to transact business. The commissioners must be citi-
zens of Maryland and residents of the city for more than three
years next preceding their appointment.

The Council may remove any of the said commissioners dur-
ing their term of office for cause, four councilmen voting in
favor of such removal, and shall fill any vacancy that may occur
in said commission for the unexpired term. The City Council
shall provide a suitable room in which the said Civil Service
Commission may hold its meetings. The city clerk shall act
for them and shall keep a record of all their meetings. The
city shall also supply the said commissioners with all necessary
equipment to properly attend to such, business.

(a) Before entering upon the duties of their office, each of
said commissioners shall take or subscribe an oath which shall
be filed and kept in the office of the city clerk, to support the
Constitution of the United States and the State of Maryland
and to obey the laws and to aim to secure and maintain an
honest and efficient force, free from partisan distinction or con-
trol and to perform the duties of his office to the best of his
ability.

(b) Such commission shall, on the first Monday in April,
and October of each year, or oftener if they shall deem it nec-
essary, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe,
hold examinations for the purpose of determining the qualifi-
cations of applications for positions, including applications for
position of Chief of Police and Chief of Fire Department,
which examinations shall be practical in their character and
shall relate to such matters as will fairly test the fitness of the
person examined to discharge the duties of the position to which
he seeks to be appointed. Such commission shall, as soon as
possible after every such examination, certify to the city coun-
cil the names of ten persons for each department, who, accord-