2512                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                            Ch. 911

drainage]] systems for any sanitary district shall have
been completed and the Commission shall have decided
after opportunity for a hearing has been given to proceed
with the construction thereof, it shall advertise, by
notice in one newspaper published in St. Mary's County
and such newspapers and technical press as it may deem
proper, for bids for the construction of said system or
systems, in part or as a whole, as in its judgment may
appear advisable. The contract shall be let to the
lowest responsible bidder, or the Commission may reject
any and all bias, and, if in its discretion the prices
quoted are unreasonable or unbalanced, it may
re-advertise the work or any part of it or may do any
part or all of the work by day labor; provided that at
any time the Commission may, in its discretion, expend
for day labor for construction work an amount not
exceeding $5,000 without advertising or receiving bids.
All such contracts shall be protected by such bonds,
penalties and conditions as the Commission may require,
all of which shall be enforced in any court having
jurisdiction.[[ ]]]

[[WHENEVER THE STUDIES AND PLANS FOR WATER SUPPLY OR
SEWERAGE SYSTEMS IN ANY SANITARY DISTRICT HAVE BEEN
COMPLETED AND THE COMMISSION HAS DECIDED, AFTER
OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING HAS BEEN GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SUBSECTION 160(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE, TO PROCEED WITH
THEIR CONSTRUCTION, IT SHALL ADVERTISE, BY NOTICE IN ONE
NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY AND WHATEVER
OTHER NEWSPAPERS AND TECHNICAL PRESS AS IT DEEMS PROPER,
FOR BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM OR SYSTEMS,
IN PART OR AS A WHOLE, AS IN ITS JUDGMENT MAY APPEAR
ADVISABLE. THE CONTRACT SHALL BE LET TO THE LOWEST
RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, OR THE COMMISSION MAY REJECT ANY AND
ALL BIDS. IF IN ITS DISCRETION THE PRICES QUOTED ARE
UNREASONABLY OR UNBALANCED, IT MAY READVERTISE THE WORK
OR ANY PART OF IT OR MAY DO ANY PART OR ALL OF THE WORK
ITSELF, IF (I) THE COST OF DOING THE WORK ITSELF IS LESS
THAN THE COST OF THE WORK AS DETERMINED BY THE LOWEST
RESPONSIBLE BIDDER AND (II) THE COST OF THE WORK DOES NOT
EXCEED $25,000. AT ANY TIME, THE COMMISSION MAY EXPEND
FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK ON A PARTICULAR PROJECT AN AMOUNT
NOT EXCEEDING $5,000 WITHOUT ADVERTISING OR RECEIVING
BIDS. ALL SUCH CONTRACTS SHALL BE PROTECTED BY WHATEVER
BONDS, PENALTIES AND CONDITIONS THE COMMISSION REQUIRES,
ALL OF WHICH SHALL BE ENFORCED IN ANY COURT HAVING
JURISDICTION.]]

[ 164. Charges for connections.]

[(a) Charges. For the purpose of paying the
interest and principal of the bonds issued by said
Commission as in this subtitle provided for the water
supply, sewerage or drainage systems to be constructed,
purchased or established under this subtitle, the said
Commission is hereby empowered to establish a proper and
reasonable charge for connection with said water supply,
sewerage and drainage system so to be constructed,