THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 603

attend the meetings of the Council, and shall advise the Mayor
and Council as to the condition of the public work under his
charge.

Q. (Property of the City. ) Every head of a department or
agency of the City shall, under the direction of the City Man-
ager, be custodian of the property and equipment issued to his
department or agency, and be responsible for its care, use and
upkeep.

R. (Oath of Office. ) The Mayor, each Councilman, the City
Manager, and every other officer or employee of the City shall,
before entering upon his official duties, take an oath that he
will support the Constitutions of the United States and of the
State of Maryland, and this charter, and that he will diligently
and faithfully discharge the duties of his office or position,
without favor, partiality, or prejudice.

The Mayor shall take the oath of office before the Clerk of
the Circuit Court for Montgomery or Prince George's County,
or before one of the deputies of such Clerk.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, notwithstanding
any other evidence of legislative intent, it is hereby declared to
be the legislative intent that, if any provision of this Act, or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held
invalid, the remainder of the Act, and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be
affected thereby.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all laws or parts of
laws inconsistent herewith, whether public general or public
local, are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall not
become effective unless and until it shall be submitted to the
registered voters of the City of Takoma Park, and approved
by a majority of such voters voting thereon.

The question shall be submitted by the Mayor and Council
to the registered voters of said City at the regular City elec-
tion to be held in March, 1952, and shall appear on the ballots
or voting machines in the form "Shall the Charter of the City
of Takoma Park be amended to provide for the office of City
Manager?", followed by the words "For Charter Amendment",
and "Against Charter Amendment", with a square or box
opposite each such statement for the voters to indicate their
choice.

If a majority of those voting on the question shall vote "For
Charter Amendment", then the provisions of Section 1192