ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR.                  143

143. They may grade and pave streets and lay flagstones
across the same and require the owners of lots, in front of
which such grading and paving are to be done, to do the same
at their own expense. They shall also have the authority to
contract with some responsible company, corporation, person
or persons for a water supply for said city: and may grant
permission to any such company, corporation, person or per-
sons to lay pipes in the beds of the avenues, streets, lanes,
and alleys of said city, and the expense and liability of
said company, corporation, person or persons for all damages
to the avenues, streets, lanes and alleys, persons or private
property done in laying such pipes; provided that no contract
made in pursuance of this section shall be made to bind or be
binding upon the Commissioners of Ellicott City for a longer
period than twelve years. They may also, in their discretion,
purchase any existing water plant from any company, corpora-
tion, person or persons. The duty of lighting the avenues,
streets, lanes and alleys of said Ellicott City, either by elec-
tricity or otherwise, is hereby imposed on the County Commis-
sioners of Howard County, who shall annually levy such sum
as may be necessary for that purpose.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted. That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1931.

Approved April 6, 1931.

CHAPTER 88.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 150
of Article 14 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland
(1930 Edition), title "Howard County, " sub-title "Ellicott
City, " reducing the maximum tax rate which may be levied
in said city.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That Section 150 of Article 14 of the Code of Pub-
lic Local Laws of Maryland (1930 Edition), title "Howard
County, " sub-title "Ellicott City, " be and it is hereby repealed
and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows: