138 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 64

may be found necessary to execute a continuing method of
assessment which number shall be fixed by the County Com-
missioners, after consultation with the State Tax Commission,
but if the County Commissioners shall find that in any County
the work can be performed by the Supervisor alone, then no
assessors shall be appointed; provided, however, that in Har-
ford County the two assessors in office on June 1, 1943, shall
constitute the first assessors holding positions under the pro-
visions of this Act, without the necessity of examination or
appointment. No appointment shall be made, however, except
in the following manner:

(b) The County Commissioners shall submit to the State
Tax Commission from the applicants for each position to be
filled, a list of not less than three applicants for each position.
The State Tax Commission shall interview, examine and
grade said applicants, in order to determine their relative
qualifications for the position or positions to be filled, and
shall certify the list of applicants and their respective grades
to the County Commissioners, who shall appoint an assessor
for each position from the said list. Upon appointment, each
assessor shall perform his duties under the direction of the
Supervisor of Assessments, and shall hold his position during
good behavior, subject only to removal by the State Tax Com-
mission, after hearing, for incompetency or other cause. In
the event of the resignation, death or removal of any assessor,
the vacancy shall be filled by the County Commissioners in
the manner hereinbefore set forth, within 60 days from the
date when the vacancy occurs. The annual salaries of the
County Assessors and all other expenses incident to local
assessment shall be levied for and paid monthly by the several
Boards of County Commissioners. Nothing herein shall affect
the powers and duties of the Bureau of Assessments in Balti-
more City, as prescribed by local law and ordinance.

(c) The annual salary of each assessor shall be determined
by the classification of his respective county as established by
the State Tax Commission and in accordance with the sched-
ules of compensation herein set forth. The salaries of all
assessors herein provided shall be paid monthly by the several
counties. A sum equivalent to one-half of the annual salary
shall be paid by the Comptroller for the State of Maryland
from general funds to the several counties, such payments
to be made to the said counties quarterly. The several coun-
ties are hereby directed to levy annually such sums as may
be required to pay the remaining one-half of these salaries.
The following classifications and their respective schedules
prescribing a minimum and maximum salary rate with auto-
matic increases from minimum to maximum, at the rate of
20% each year for a period of five years, shall apply to the
assessors of each county: