HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 881

dents of the City of Cumberland for more than three years
next preceding their appointment. Each of the said Civil
Service Commissioners shall receive the sum of Fifty
($50. 00) Dollars per annum for their duties as such; said
sum to be paid semi-annually. The Council may remove
any of the said Commissisoners during their term of office
for cause, four councilmen voting in favor of such removal,
and shall fill any vacancy that may occur in said commis-
sion for the unexpired term. The City Council shall pro-
vide a suitable room in which the said Civil Service Com-
mission may hold meetings. The City Clerk shall act for
them and shall keep a record of all their meetings. The
City shall also supply the said Commissioners with all
necessary equipment to properly attend to such business.

(a) Before entering upon the duties of their office,
each of said commissioners shall take or subscribe an oath
which shall be filed and kept in the office of the City Clerk,
to support the Constitution of the United States and the
State of Maryland and to obey the laws and to aim to secure
and maintain an honest and efficient force, free from par-
tisan distinction or control and to perform the duties of his
office to the best of his ability.

(b) Such commission shall, during the last week in
April of each year or oftener if they shall deem it neces-
sary, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe,
hold examinations for the purpose of determining the quali-
fications of applicants for positions, including applications
for positions of Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police
and Lieutenant of Police and Chief of the Fire Department
and Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, which exam-
inations shall be practical in their character and shall relate
to such matters as will fairly test the fitness of the person
examined to discharge the duties of the position to which
he seeks to be appointed. Such commission shall, as soon
as possible after each such examination, certify to the City
Council the names of ten persons for each department, who,
according to its records, have the highest standing for the
positions they seek to fill, as a result of such examinations
and all vacancies, in positions under Civil Service which
shall occur before the holding of the next examination,
shall be filled from said list so certified; provided, however,
if the list for any cause shall be reduced to less than three
for any division or department, then the Commissioner
of said Department may temporarily fill a vacancy until
the next examination of the Commission. The employees
of the Police and Fire Departments so appointed, shall only
hold office by virtue of such appointments until Civil