SAMUEL SPRIGG, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1820.

as aforesaid, to impose and levy on the property so to be directed
to be assessed and valued, any sum or sums of money in equal and
fair proportions, provided the money to be imposed and levied shall
not exceed in any one year the rate of fifty cents for every hundred
dollars worth of property, according to such respective assess-
ment and valuation; to appoint and qualify an active and discreet
person, annually, to be the bailiff of the said town, and to give
him such directions in the execution of his office as shall be ne-
cessary to accomplish the intentions of this act; to pay their
clerk, and the bailiff of the said town respectively, a reasonable
allowance for their services, to be rated by the said commission-
ers on the property aforesaid by equal assessment; and generally,
to order and promote such regulations and improvements for the
benefit and advantage of the, said town, as a majority of the vo-
ters aforesaid shall determine to be necessary.

CHAP. 159.

17. And be it enacted. That the commissioners of the said town,
or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to
make such by-laws for the regulation and good government of
the said town, and the inhabitants thereof, and to restrain all
disorders and disturbances, and to prevent all nuisance, inconveni-
encies and annoyances, and other matters, exigencies and things,
within the said town, as to them shall seem meet, and not contrary
to the constitution and laws of this state, and the said by-laws
shall he observed, kept and performed, by all the inhabitants of
the said town, and all persons trading therein, under such rea-
sonable penalties, fines and forfeitures, as shall be imposed by the
said by-laws, not exceeding fifty dollars, the said penalties, fines
and forfeitures, to be levied by distress and sale of the goods, or
exception of the bodies of persons offending, and applied to the
use of the said town.

May make by-
laws, &c.

18. And be it enacted, That the same power given to the justi-
ces of the peace in any county within this state, by an act of as-
sembly passed November session seventeen hundred and eighty-
nine, entitled An act to regulate the assize of bread, shall be and
they are hereby vested in the said commissioners, to be exercised
by them within the said town only.

Power to regulate
assize of bread
vested in them.

19. And be it enacted, That the bailiff of the said town shall
be appointed annually on the third Monday of September, and
before be shall proceed to execute his office, he shall give bond,
with security to be approved by the said commissioners for the
faithful performance of the duties imposed on him by this act,
and shall also take an oath before the said commissioners, that he
will faithfully and impartially perform the duties required of him
as bailiff of the said town by this act, according to the best
skill and judgment, anil without favour, affection or prejudice;
and the duties of the said bailiff shall be to attend the meetings
of the said commissioners whenever he shall be required to per-
form such services, for the more effectually accomplishing the ob-
jects of this act, as shall directed by the said commissioners,
or the by-laws by them to be made; to prevent the tumultuous
and irregular meetings of slaves, negroes, and other dissolute
and disorderly persons, within the limits of the said town, or if
so assembled, to disperse them by reasonable and lawful means,
and punish with correction, under such rules and regulations as

Bailiff to be ap-
pointed—his du-
ties.