1330 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 467

twenty four hours thereafter, report such demotion, sus-
pension or discharge with the reasons therefore, to the
Commissioner of such department, who shall thereupon,
affirm or revoke such demotion, suspension or discharge

according to the merits under the facts of the case, and if

affirmed or revoked the appointing officer shall furnish the
subordinate so demoted, suspended or discharged, and also

the Commission, a copy of the order and also his reasons

for such action. Every officer or employee so demoted, sus-

pended or discharged, after the termination of the proba-
tionary period, and whose demotion, suspension or dis-
charge has been affirmed, or the officer or person so sus-

pending or discharging a subordinate when such suspen-
sion or discharge has been revoked as the case may be, may
within five (5) days from the affirmance of any such demo-
tion, suspension or discharge, appeal therefrom to the
Civil Service Commission in writing; - such Commission

shall fully hear and determine the appeal upon the merits
of the case, and if it be determined that any such demotion,
suspension or discharge was unwarranted, the appellant
shall be reinstated; otherwise, it shall be affirmed. Any

such appeal may be taken by serving upon the Commis-
sion a notice in writing, within said time, specifying the

ruling appealed from, which notice shall be signed by the

person taking the appeal. A true copy of such notice of
appeal shall be filed with the proper Commissioner. With-
in five (5) days from service of such notice of appeal, the

proper department Commissioner shall file with the Civil
Service Commission Chairman, a written specification of

the charges or grounds upon which affirmance of the demo-
tion, suspension or discharge appeals from, was based.
Within five (5) days after such specifications are filed, as

aforesaid, the Commission shall fix the time and place for

hearing the appeal and notify the appellant in writing of

the time and place so fixed, which notice shall contain a

copy of the specifications so filed. The time for hearing
such appeal shall not be fixed earlier than five (5) days,

not later than twenty (20) days from filing such specifica-

tions. The Commission shall have power to enforce the
attendance of witnesses and production of books and papers
and to administer oaths in the same manner and with like
effect and under the same penalties as in cases of magis-
tratcs exercising criminal or civil jurisdiction under the
statutes of Maryland. The hearing of such appeals shall
be public, and the appellant may be represented by counsel.

In the event that a suspension, demotion or discharge
shall be sustained by the Commission, the officer or em-
employee affected may appeal from said decision to the Circuit