500 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 278

residents of said Town or corporations having their principal
office therein, assessable for the purpose of State and County
taxes as now or hereafter shall be provided, shall be taxed for
the purpose and expenses of said Town. The Commissioners
may, as often as deemed advisable, cause an assessment to be
made of said property, by three persons to be appointed by.
them, who shall be taxpayers and residents of the Town, which
assessment the Commissioners may, on good cause shown,
increase or decrease as may be right and proper, but before
making any increase in said assessment they shall notify the
owner of said property at least five days before time set for
increasing said assessment to appear before said Commissioners
to show cause why said increase should not be made.

SEC. 15. And be it further enacted. That the said Com-
missioners of Willards shall have full power to pass all by-laws
and ordinances not inconsistent with the laws and Constitution
of this State as from time to time they may deem wise, equi-
table and expedient for the comfort, health, convenience and
prosperity of said Town and its inhabitants; for the prevention
and removal of nuisances, for the preservation of health and
suppression of vice and immorality within the limits of said
town; and for the protection of the property of said town and
its inhabitants.

SEC. 16. And be it further enacted, That the Commission-
ers of Willards shall have power to make by-laws and pass
ordinances to establish grade for streets, gutters and sidewalks
of the Town, the width thereof, and prescribe the material of
which same shall be built; to cause the sidewalks along the
streets to be graded, curbed, paved, repaved or improved at the
cost and expense of the owners of the abutting property, which
cost shall be a lien on the abutting property and recoverable by
an action at law, or compel by fines or otherwise the owners or
proprietors of any such lot to grade, pave, repave and curb the
sidewalks in front thereof agreeably to ordinances that may
hereafter be passed; to provide by ordinance for the condemn-
ing, laying out, opening, extending and making new streets or
alleys, and for altering, straightening, widening, grading, im-
proving or closing up in whole or part any existing street or
alley, and for removing trees, posts and other obstructions, and
for laying out public squares, drains and water courses; and all
benefits and damages done, suffered or incurred by laying out,
opening and making of new streets or alleys, or by altering,