896                          LAWS OF MARYLAND.                 [CH. 353

Provided, however, that before the said Mayor and City
Council shall proceed to erect or purchase any plant for the
supplying of gas, water or electricity to the city or its inhabi-
tants, and before authorizing the construction of any general
system or systems of sewers, they shall first submit said propo-
sition or propositions to the legally qualified voters of said city
at a special or general election to be held after at least twenty
days7 previous notice thereof. And if at said election a ma-
jority of said voters shall approve any such proposition or
propositions, the said Mayor and City Council shall thereupon
proceed to carry the same into effect. But if a majority of
said voters shall disapprove of any such proposition or propo-
sitions, then said Mayor and City Council shall abandon the
same. And no such proposition shall again be submitted to the
popular vote until at least six months have elapsed from the
date of the election at which said proposition was disapproved.

No use shall be made of the. streets of said city by any indi-
vidual or corporation for the purpose of a railroad, tramway,
telegraph line, telephone line, electric light or power lines,
electric subways or gas or water conduits or pipe lines with-
out the consent of the Mayor and City Council, and subject to
such franchise tax and regulations as. they may by ordinance
prescribe.

316. The Mayor and City Council shall annually, before
the first day of July, levy such sum as they may deem suffi-
cient to meet the running expenses of the city for the current
fiscal year, and any additional sum necessary to pay interest
on the debt or any other outstanding obligation of the city.
They shall in no year contract a floating debt of more than
one thousand dollars in excess of the levy for that year, and
at no time shall the aggregate sum of said floating debt exceed
a sum equal to oner-half of one per cent, of the assessable basis
of said city. Whenever they make a levy they shall do so,
item by item, specifying the department for which the levy is
made and the amount to be expended therein.

334. The Mayor and City Council are hereby authorized
and empowered to borrow on the faith and credit of the. city
any sum or sums of money not exceeding in the aggregate
an amount equal to one-half of one per cent, of the assessable
basis of said city, and may issue bonds or other evidences of in-
debtedness for the same, and in such sums and payable at such
times as they may by ordinance prescribe; provided, howeverT