578 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 245

vertise, by notice in such newspapers and technical press as it
may deem proper, for bids for the construction of said system
or systems, in parts or as a whole, as in its judgment may appear
advisable. The contract shall be let to the lowest responsible bid-
der, or the commission may reject any or all bids, and, if in its
discretion the prices quoted are unreasonable, it may readvertise
the work or any part of it, or may do any part or all of the
work by day labor; provided that at the time the commission
may, in its discretion, expend by day labor for construction
work au amount not exceeding $500. 00 without advertising or
receiving bids. All such contracts may be protected by such
bonds, penalties and conditions as the commission shall require,
all of which shall be enforceable in any court having juris-
diction.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That said commission
for the purpose of assessing benefits for the construction of
water supply and sewerage systems, shall divide all properties
binding upon a street, road, lane, alley or right of way in which
a water pipe or sanitary sewer is to be laid, into four classes,
namely: agricultural, small acreage, industrial or business and
sub-division property. Immediately upon the commencement
of a water supply or sewerage project in any district, as de-
fined by said commission under the provisions of Section 4,
the commission is empowered and directed to fix and levy a
benefit charge upon all property in that district abutting upon
said water main or sewer, in accordance with the classification,
and shall, in writing, notify all owners of said properties into
which class their respective properties fall and the charge de-
termined upon, naming also in said notice a time and place
when and at which said owner will be heard. Such notice
may be mailed to the last known address of the owner, or
served in person upon any adult occupying the premises, or
in case of vacant or unimproved property, posted upon the
premises. The classification of and benefit assessed against
any property as made by the commission shall be final, sub-
ject only to revision at said hearing. The commission may
change the classification of property from time to time as said
properties change in the uses to which they are put. Said
benefits shall be levied for both water supply and sewerage con-
struction and shall be based for each class of property upon
the number of front feet abutting upon the street, lane, road,
alley or right of way in which the water pipe or sewer is
placed; provided, however, that in the case of any irregular