1710 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 702

(b) It shall establish and enforce specifications with
respect to such purchases.

(c) It shall inspect all deliveries of such purchases, and
determine their conformance with the specifications and with
the order.

(d) It shall have charge of all general storerooms and
warehouses used by the City.

(e) It shall transfer surplus, obsolete or unused materials
among the several City offices, departments and agencies.

(f) It shall have authority to pool its purchases with those
of other governmental bodies.

(g) Due notice shall be given of the intention of the Pur-
chasing Division to purchase or contract for supplies, ma-
terials and equipment. Every purchase in an amount in
excess of five hundred dollars shall be made by competitive
bidding, under such procedure and with such general excep-
tions as the Mayor and City Council may by ordinance pro-
vide; but the Mayor and City Council shall not exempt indi-
vidual contracts or purchases from the requirement of
competitive bidding.

(h) It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the
Mayor and City Council to make purchases on behalf of the
City, to incur any obligation on behalf of the City, or to
pledge the credit of the City in any manner except as pro-
vided in this Article and in regulations, orders and ordi-
nances lawfully promulgated or adopted pursuant thereto.

(i) The Mayor and City Council shall provide by ordinance
that either the City Manager or the Director of Finance shall
be the head of the Purchasing Division, or that it be a sepa-
rate office within the Classified Service of the City.

TAXATION

112. GENERAL POWERS. (a) The Mayor and City
Council shall have power to levy and collect a tax on the
assessable property in the City, for its general corporate and
municipal purposes.

(b) The rate of such tax shall not exceed ninety cents on
each one hundred dollars worth of assessable property, plus
the rate necessary to pay the interest and principal on the
bonds and other indebtedness incurred for corporate pur-
poses, and for sinking funds to pay off such indebtedness.