1841.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

chap. 284.

CHAPTER 284.

Passed March
8, 1842.

An act to incorporate the Town of Smithsburg, in Wash-
ington County.

Incorporated.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the citizens of the town of Smithsburg,
in Washington county, shall be and they are hereby made
and constituted a body corporate, by the name of the Bur-
gess and Commissioners of Smithsburg, and as such shall
have succession, and by their incorporate name, may sue
and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in the several courts
of this State; and may have and use a common seal, and the
same may alter and change at their pleasure.

Elect Bur-
gess and com-
missioners.

Sec 2. And be it enacted, That the free white male citi-
zens of Smithsburg, of the age of twenty-one years and
upwards, and having resided twelve months in said town
next preceding the election, shall on the first Monday in
May next, and on the first Monday in May in each and eve-
ry year thereafter, elect by ballot a Burgess, assistant Bur-
gess and three commissioners, who shall have resided with-
in the limits of said town twelve months next preceding the
election, and shall have attained the age of twenty-one
years.

Oldest jus-
tice of the
peace to ap-
point judges.

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the oldest justice of tile
peace in commission, residing in said town, shall appoint by
writing, under his hand and seal, three judges to hold the
first election, who shall keep the polls open from ten o'clock
in the morning, until three in the evening, and shall conduct
the said election in the manner in which the judges of elec-
tions arc now by law directed to conduct an election for de-
legates to the General Assembly, as far as may be consis-
tent with the provisions of this act, and the said judges
shall make return, under their hands and seals, of the per-
sons elected, to the clerk of Washington county, to be by
him safe kept.

Elections to
be conducted
agreeable to
by-laws-

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That all future elections
shall be. held and conducted as shall from time to time, be
directed by the by-laws of the corporation, the same not
being inconsistent with the provisions of this act.

Burgess to
preside at all
meeting.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That the Burgess shall pre-
side at all meetings of the municipality, and have the pri-
vilege of the casting vote only, and in his absence the as-
sistant burgess shall preside under the same restrictions,
but when the burgess is present, the assistant burgess shall
have the same power and authority as one of the commis-
sioners.