1566 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 692

eral Assembly of Maryland. In addition to the powers vested
in them as County Commissioners by existing law, the said
Board of County Commissioners is hereby authorized within
the said district to make reasonable regulations affecting
the kind, size and character (including the material used there-
in) of buildings to be erected in said district; to construct
streets, sidewalks, gutters and curbs; to erect, maintain and pro-
tect such buildings for municipal purposes as they may deem
necessary and proper; to cause the public streets and public
buildings to be lighted; to permit, under such restrictions as they
may deem proper, not inconsistent with existing law, the laying
of railroad tracks and the running of cars propelled by steam,
electricity or other power thereon; to permit the construction
and maintenance of telegraph, telephone and electric lines and
gas mains on or in the public streets, and to impose such restric-
tions and conditions upon the location and maintenance of gas,
electric light and trolley wires, poles, pipes and railroad tracks
as shall secure the least possible public or private inconvenience,
provided, however, that such permits as to underground con-
struction, shall be in addition to those required under existing
law; to contract for periods not exceeding five years with any
public or private corporation or any person, for supplying the
district or the inhabitants thereof, with gas or electricity or
for any general municipal purpose except the furnishing of
water or sewer service or garbage, refuse or ash disposal
service, provided, however, that such contracts shall be let
only after thirty days' notice calling for bids for such pur-
pose or purposes has been given at least three times during
that period in some newspaper of general circulation in the
district, and the County Commissioners may, in their discre-
tion, reject any or all bids whereupon such contract or con-
tracts shall be awarded by ordinance; to license for the pur-
pose of regulation or revenue all and every kind of business
transacted or carried on within the district and to fix the rate
of license upon the same and provide for the collection thereof
by suit or otherwise; to inspect, license, regulate and limit as to
location any place of public amusement or recreation, pleasure
parks, picnic grounds, club houses, theatrical exhibitions, base-
ball grounds, bowling alleys, billiard or pool rooms or camp
meeting grounds, grave yards, sanitariums, hospitals, homes for
the aged, orphan asylums, homes for children, and convalescent
homes; signs or sign boards on or near State or County roads;
and in order to safeguard the public health, safety, morals