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461] The Constitution. 83
ard, Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles and Prince
George's formed the second district. Baltimore City con-
stituted the third district, and the eight counties of the
Eastern Shore the fourth. A residence of five years in the
district from which the commissioner was chosen was re-
quired to be eligible to this office. The commissioners'
duties were, to have supervision over all public works in
which the State was interested as stockholder or creditor.
The commissioners were also given authority to regu-
late the "tolls" so as to prevent injurious competition.
In case of an equal division of opinion among the commis-
sioners, the State's treasurer had the final decision.55 It
will be noticed that the districts were so arranged as to
place the sections of the State with similar interest in the
same district.
County commissioners were to be elected directly by the
people. These officers were previously appointed by the
governor. The election must be by a " general ticket,"
and not by district The powers of the county commis-
sioners were strictly limited by the legislature. Road su-
pervisors were also to be elected by popular vote, as well
as the county surveyors. The county of Worcester was
required to elect a wreck master. Every commonwealth
officer, with the exception of the governor, whose yearly
income exceeded three thousand dollars was required to
keep a record of all money he received, and to report the
same to the treasurer annually. The excess over three
thousand dollars was to be paid in to the state treasury.
This provision was intended to prevent the enormous sala-
ries received by some of the public officers in fees. It was
said that the clerk of the Baltimore county court received
fifteen thousand dollars annually in fees. Howard dis-
trict, a part of Anne Arundel county, was erected into a
county called Howard. A provision was also made for
the erection of another county out of part of Allegany
county.56
55 Art. vii. 56 Art. viii, sec. 2.
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