200 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 135

be in writing and signed by them. A majority of the Council
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but
no ordinance shall be adopted without the affirmative vote of
four members and the Council shall pass rules and by-lav/s
for their government while in session.

No person elected and qualified as Mayor or Councilman,
or any person holding any office by election, appointment, or
otherwise, under the provisions of this charter, shall during
the term of his office, be interested, directly or indirectly, in
any contract to which the town is a party or in which it is
interested; nor shall any such person, while holding such office
be directly or indirectly engaged in furnishing work, labor or
materials for said town, any person violating the provisions
of this section shall be proceeded against by indictment in
the Circuit Court of Frederick County, and upon conviction
shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, in the discretion of
the Court.

The Council shall receive all election returns, and deter-
mine all questions arising thereon, and any person conceiving
himself aggrieved by reason of such decision, may appeal to
the Circuit Court for Frederick County, which shall hear and
determine the same and determine who shall pay the costs of
appeal. In case of a tie vote in any election for Mayor or
members of the Council, or any proposition or question sub-
mitted to the voters, another election shall be held within
sixty days thereafter pursuant to the aforegoing provisions
in regard to elections. In case of a vacancy in the office of
Mayor or Councilman by death, resignation, disqualification
or removal from the town, the Council shall, within ten days
thereafter, order a special election to fill such vacancy.

TAXING POWER,

SEC. 16. The Mayor and Council, whenever they think the
public interests require it, may cause an assessment to be made
of all real and personal property within the corporate limits
of said town, subject to assessment for state and county taxes,
and they may prescribe the manner in which such assessments
shall be made, and provide for the adjustment of all differences
in relation to such assessment, and to do all other things nec-
essary in making such assessment; and the Mayor and Council
shall have power to levy and collect taxes in the town, not ex-
ceeding for general purposes in any one year one dollar ($1. 00)
on each One Hundred Dollars ($100. 00) of assessable property,
and shall also levy and collect the taxes required to meet the
interest and redeem at maturity all bonds heretofore legally
issued.