1418 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 560

The Board of Adjustment shall not be required to return
the original papers acted upon by it, but it shall be sufficient
to return certified or sworn copies thereof of such portions as
may be called for by such writ. The return shall concisely set
forth such other facts as may be pertinent and material to
show the grounds of the decision appealed from and shall be
verified by affidavit.

If, upon the hearing, it shall appear to the Court that testi-
mony is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it
may take evidence in open court, or direct that evidence be
taken by one of the standing examiners of said Court, and re-
port the same to the Court, and upon which the determination
of the Court shall be made. The Court may reverse or affirm,
wholly or partly, or may modify, the decision brought for
review.

Costs shall not be allowed against the Board, unless it shall
appear to the Court that it acted with gross negligence or in
bad faith or with malice in making the decision appealed
from.

All issues in any proceeding in this section shall have pref-
erence over all other civil actions and proceedings.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That in case any building
or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, re-
paired, converted, or maintained; or any building, structure
or land is used in violation of this Act, or in violation of any
ordinance or other regulation made under authority conferred
hereby, the City Solicitor, in addition to other remedies, may
institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent
any unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration,
repair, conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct or
abate such violation, or to prevent the occupancy of such build-
ing, structure or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct,
business or use in or about such premises.

SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That wherever the regu-
lations made under authority of this Act require a greater
width or size of yards, courts, or other open spaces, or require
a lower height of building or less number of stories, or require
a greater percentage of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose
other higher standards than are required in any other statute
or local ordinance or regulation, the provisions of the regu-
lations made under authority of this Act shall govern. Wher-
ever the provisions of any other statute or local ordinance or