ARTICLE VII.

SUNDRY OFFICERS,

SECTION 1. County Commissioners shall be elected on general ticket of each county, by the qualified voters of the several Counties of this State, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-Seven, and on the same day in every second year thereafter. Their number in each County, their compensation, powers and duties shall be such as are now, or may be hereafter prescribed by Law.

SEC. 2. The qualified voters of each county, and of the City of Baltimore, shall, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-Seven, and on the same day in every second year thereafter, elect a Surveyor for each County and the City of Baltimore, respectively, whose term of office, shall commence on the first Monday of January next ensuing their election; and whose duties and compensation shall be the same as are now, or may hereafter be prescribed by Law. And any vacancy in the office of Surveyor shall be filled by the Commissioners of the Counties, or by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, respectively, for the residue of the

term.

SEC. 3. The State Librarian shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall hold his office during the term of the Governor, by whom he shall have been appointed, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. His salary shall be fifteen hundred dollars a year; and he shall perform such duties as are now, or may hereafter be prescribed by Law; and no appropriation shall be made by Law, to pay for any Clerk, or assistant to the Librarian: And it shall be the duty of the Legislature, at its first Session after the adoption of this Constitution, to pass a Law regulating the mode and manner in which the books in the Library shall be kept and accounted for by the Librarian, and requiring the Librarian to give a Bond, in such penalty as the Legislature may prescribe, for the proper discharge of his duties.

SEC. 4. There shall be a Commissioner of the Land Office, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall hold his office during the term of the Governor, by whom he shall have been appointed, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. He shall perform such duties as are now required of the Commissioner of the Land Office, or such as may hereafter be prescribed by Law, and shall also be the keeper of the Chancery Records. He shall receive a salary of one thousand five hundred dollars per annum, to be paid out of the Treasury, and shall charge such fees as are now, or may be hereafter fixed by Law. He shall make a semi-annual report of all the fees of his office, both as Commissioner of the Land Office, and as Keeper of the Chancery Records, to the Comptroller of the Treasury, and shall pay the same semi-annually into the Treasury.

SEC. 5. The Commissioner of the Land Office shall also, without additional compensation, collect, arrange, classify, have charge of, and safely keep all Papers, Records, Relics, and other Memorials connected with the Early History of Maryland, not belonging to any other office.

SEC. 6. The qualified voters of Worcester County shall, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November, in the year Eighteen Hundred and SixtySeven, and every two years thereafter, elect a Wreck Master for said County, whose duties and compensation shall be the same as are now, or may be hereafter, prescribed by Law; the term of office of said Wreck Master shall commence on the first Monday of January next succeeding his election; and a vacancy in said office shall be filled by the County Commissioners of said County for the residue of the term.

ARTICLE VIII.
EDUCATION.

SECTION 1. The General Assembly, at its first session after the adoption of this Constitution, shall, by Law, establish, throughout the State, a thorough and efficient system of Free Public Schools, and shall provide by taxation, or otherwise, for their maintenance.

SEC. 2. The system of Public Schools, as now constituted, shall remain in force until the end of the said first session of the General Assembly, and shall then expire; except so far as adopted, or continued, by the General Assembly.

SEC. 3. The School Fund of the State shall be kept inviolate, and appropriated. only to the purposes of Education.

ARTICLE IX.

MILITIA AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.

SECTION 1. The General Assembly shall make, from time to time, such provision for organizing, equipping and disciplining the Militia, as the exigency may require, and pass such Laws to promote Volunteer Militia Organizations as may afford them effectual encouragement.

SEC. 2. There shall be an Adjutant General, appointed by the Governor, by and wwith the advice and consent of the Senate. He shall hold his office until the appointment and qualification of his successor, or until removed in pursuance of the sentence of a Court Martial. He shall perform such duties, and receive such compensation, or emoluments, as are now, or may be prescribed by Law. He shall discharge the duties of his office at the Seat of Government, unless absent, under orders, on duty; and no other officer of the General Staff of the Militia shall receive salary or pay, except when on service, and mustered in with troops. SEC. 3. The existing Militia Law of the State shall expire at the end of the next Session of the General Assembly, except so far as it may be re-enacted, subject to the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE X.

LABOR AND AGRICULTURE.

SECTION 1. There shall be a Superintendent of Labor and Agriculture, elected by the qualified voters of this State at the first general election for Delegates to the General Assembly after the adoption of this Constitution, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, and until the election and qualification of his suc

-cessor.

SEC. 2. His qualifications shall be the same as those prescribed for the Comptroller; he shall qualify and enter upon the duties of his office on the second Monday of January next succeeding the time of his election; and a vacancy in the office shall be filled by the Governor for the residue of the term.

SEC. 3. He shall perform such of the duties now devolved by Law upon the Commissioner of Immigration and the Immigration Agent, as will promote the object for which those officers were appointed, and such other duties as may be as signed to him by the General Assembly, and shall receive a salary of Twenty-five Hundred dollars a year; and after his election and qualification, the offices before mentioned shall cease.

SEC. 4. He shall supervise all the State Inspectors of agricultural products and fertilizers; and from time to time, shall carefully examine and audit their accounts, and prescribe regulations, not inconsistent with Law, tending to secure economy and efficiency in the business of their offices. He shall have the supervision of the Tobacco Warehouses, and all other buildings used for inspection and storage purposes by the State; and may, at the discretion of the Legislature, have the supervision of all public buildings now belonging to, or which may hereafter be erected by the State. He shall frequently inspect such buildings as are committed to his charge, and examine all accounts for labor and materials required for their construction, or repairs.

SEC. 5. He shall inquire into the undeveloped resources of wealth of the State of Maryland, more especially concerning those within the limits of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, which belong to the State, and suggest such plans as may be calculated to render them available as resources of revenue.

SEC. 6. He shall make detailed reports to every General Assembly within the first week of its Session, in reference to each of the subjects committed to his charge, and he shall also report to the Governor, in the recess of the Legislature, all abuses, or irregularities which he may find to exist in any Department of public affairs, with which his office is connected.

SEC. 7. The office hereby established shall continue for four years from the date of the qualification of the first Incumbent thereof; and shall then expire, unless continued by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE XI.

CITY OF BALTIMORE.

SECTION 1. The Inhabitants of the City of Baltimore, qualified by Law to vote in said city for members. of the House of Delegates, shall on the Fourth Wednesday of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and on the same day in every fourth year thereafter, elect a person to be Mayor of the City of Baltimore, who shall have such qualifications, receive such compensation, discharge such duties, and have such powers as are now, or may hereafter be prescribed by Law;

and the term of whose office shall commence on the first Monday of November succeeding his election, and shall continue for four years, and until his successor shall have qualified; and he shall be ineligible for the term next succeeding that for which he was elected..

SEC. 2. The City Council of Baltimore shall consist of Two Branches, one of which shall be called the First Branch, and the other the Second Branch; and each shall consist of such number of members, having such qualification, receiving such compensation, performing such duties, possessing such powers, holding such terms of office, and elected in such manner, as are now, or may hereafter be preseribed by Law.

SEC. 3. An election for members of the First and Second Branch of the City Council of Baltimore shall be held in the City of Baltimore on the Fourth Wednesday of October, eighteen hundered and sixty-seven; and for members of the First Branch on the same day in every year thereafter; and for members of the Second Branch on the same day in every second year thereafter; and the qualification for electors of the members of the City Council shall be the same as those prescribed for the electors of Mayor.

SEC. 4. The regular sessions of the City Council of Baltimore, (which shall be annual,) shall commence on the third Monday of January of each year, and shall not continue more than ninety days, exclusive of Sundays; but the Mayor may convene the City Council in extra session whenever, and as often as it may appear to him that the public good may require; but no called, or extra session shall last longer than twenty days, exclusive of Sundays.

SEC. 5. No person, elected and qualified as Mayor, or as a member of the City Council, shall, during the term for which he was elected, hold any other office of profit or trust, created, or to be created, by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, or by any Law relating to the Corporation of Baltimore, or hold any employment, or position, the compensation of which shall be paid, directly or indirectly, out of the City Treasury; nor shall any such person be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract to which the City is a party; nor shall it be lawful for any person, holding any office under the City, to be interested, while holding such office, in any contract, to which the City is a party.

SEC. 6. The Mayor shall, on conviction in a Court of Law, of wilful neglect of duty, or misbehavior in office, be removed from office by the Governor of the State; and a successor shall thereafter be elected as in a case of vacancy.

Sec. 7. From and after the adoption of this Constitution, no debt, (except as hereinafter excepted,) shall be created by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; nor shall the credit of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore be given, or loaned to, or in aid of any individual, association, or corporation; nor shall the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore have the power to involve the City of Baltimore in the construction of Works of Internal Improvement, nor in granting any aid thereto, which shall involve the faith and credit of the City, nor make any appropriation therefor, unless such debt or credit be authorized by an Act of the General Assembly of Maryland, and by an Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, submitted to the legal voters of the City of Baltimore, at such time and place as may be fixed by said Ordinance, and approved by a majority of the votes cast at such time and place; but the Mayor and City Council may, temporarily, borrow any amount of money to meet any deficiency in the City Treasury, or to provide for any emergency arising from the necessity of maintaining the Police, or preserving the safety and sanitary condition of the City, and may make due and proper arrangements and agreements for the removal and extension, in whole or in part, of any and all debts and obligations, created according to Law before the adoption of this Constitution.

SEc. 8 All Laws and Ordinances, now in force, applicable to the City of Baltimore, not inconsistent with this Article, shall be, and they are hereby continued until changed in due course of Law.

SEC. 9. The General Assembly may make such changes in this Article, except in Section seventh thereof, as it may deem best; and this Article shall not be so construed, or taken, as to make the political Corporation of Baltimore independent of, or free from the control, which the General Assembly of Maryland has over all such Corporations in this State.

ARTICLE XII.
PUBLIC WORKS.

SECTION 1. The Governor, the Comptroller of the Treasury, and the Treasurer, shall constitute the Board of Public Works in this State. They shall keep a journal of their proceedings, and shall hold regular sessions in the City of Annap olis on the first Wednesday in January, April, July and October, in each year, and

oftener if necessary; at which sessions they shall hear and determine such mattersas affect the Public Works of the State, and as the General Assembly may confer upon them the power to decide.

SEC. 2. They shall exercise a diligent and faithful supervision of all Public Works, in which the State may be interested, as Stockholder or Creditor, and shall represent, and vote the Stock of the State of Maryland, in all meetings of the Stockholders of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal; and shall appoint the Directors in every Railroad and Canal Company, in which the State has the legal power to appoint Directors, which said Directors shall represent the State in all meetings of the Stockholders of the respective Companies, for which they are appointed, or elected; and the President and Directors of the said Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company shall so regulate the tolls of said Company, from time to time, as to produce the largest amount of revenue, and to avoid the injurious effects to said Company of rival competitors by other Internal Improvement Companies. They shall require the Directors of all said Public Works to guard the public interest, and prevent the establishment of tolls which shall discriminate against the interest of the citizens or products of this State, and from time to time, and as often as there shall be any change in the rates of toll on any of the said Works, to furnish the said Board of Public Works a schedule of such modified rates of toll, and so adjust them as to promote the agricultural interests of the State; they shall report to the General Assembly at each regular Session, and recommend such legislation as they may deem necessary and requisite to promote, or protect the interests of the State in the said Public Works; they shall perform such other duties as may be hereafter prescribed by Law; and a majority of them shall be competent to act. The Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer, shall receive no additional salary for services rendered by them as members of the Board of Public Works. The provisions of the Act of the General Assembly of Maryland, of the year 1867, chapter 359, are hereby declared null and void.

SEC. 3. The Board of Public Works is hereby authorized to exchange the State's interest, as Stockholder and Creditor, in the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company for an equal amount of the Bonds or Registered Debt, now owing by the State, to the extent only of all the preferred Stock of the State, on which the State is entitled to only six per cent. interest; provided, such exchange shall not be made at less than par, nor less than the market value of said stock; and the said Board is authorized, subject to such regulations and conditions as the General Assembly may, from time to time, prescribe, to sell the State's interest in the other Works of Internal Improvement, whether as a Stockholder or a Creditor, and also the State's interest in any Banking Corporation, receiving in payment the Bonds and Registered Debt now owing by the State, equal in amount to the price obtained for the State's said interest; provided, that the interest of the State in the Washington Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road be reserved and excepted from sale; and provided further, that no sale or contract of sale of the State's interest in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and the Susquehanna and Tide-Water Canal Companies shall go into effect until the same shall be ratified by the ensuing General Assembly.

ARTICLE XIII.

NEW COUNTIES.

SECTION 1. The General Assembly may provide, by Law, for organizing New Counties, locating and removing County seats, and changing County lines; but no New county shall be organized without the consent of the majority of the legal voters residing within the limits proposed to be formed into said New County; and whenever a New County shall be proposed to be formed out of portions of two or more Counties, the consent of a majority of the legal voters of such part of each of said Counties, respectively, shall be required; nor shall the lines of any County be changed without the consent of a majority of the legal voters, residing within the district, which, under said proposed change, would form a part of a County different from that, to which it belonged prior to said change; and no New County shall contain less than four hundred square miles, nor less than ten thousand white Inhabitants; nor shall any change be made in the limits of any County, whereby the population of said County would be reduced to less than ten thousand white Inhabitants, or its territory reduced to less than four hundred square miles.. SEC. 2. At the election to be held for the adoption, or rejection of this Constitution, in each Election District in those parts of Worcester and Somerset Coun-ties, comprised within the following limits, viz: Beginning at the point where Mason and Dixon's line crosses the channel of Pocomoke River, thence following said line to the channel of the Nanticoke River, thence with the channel of said! river to Tangier Sound, or the intersection of Nanticoke and Wicomico Rivers,

thence up the channel of the Wicomico River to the mouth of Wicomico Creek, thence with the channel of said creek and Passerdyke Creek to Dashield's, or Disharoon's Mills, thence with the mill-pond of said Mills, and Branch following the middle prong of said Branch, to Meadow Bridge, on the road dividing the Counties of Somerset and Worcester, near the southwest corner of the farm of William P. Morris, thence due east to the Pocomoke River, thence with the channel of said river to the beginning the Judges of election in each of said Districts shall receive the ballots of each elector, voting at said election, who has resided for six months preceding said election within said limits, for or against a New County; and the Return Judges of said Election Districts shall certify the result of such voting, in the manner now prescribed by Law, to the Governor, who shall by Proclamation make known the same; and if a majority of the legal votes cast within that part of Worcester County, contained within said lines, and also a majority of the legal votes cast within that part of Somerset County, contained within said lines, shall be in favor of a New County, then said parts of Worcester and Somerset Counties shall become and constitute a New County, to be called Wicomico County, and Salisbury shall be the County Seat. And the Inhabitants thereof shall thenceforth have and enjoy all such rights and privileges as are held and enjoyed by the Inhabitants of the other Counties of this State.

SEC. 3. When said New County shall have been so created, the Inhabitants thereof shall cease to have any claim to, or interest in, the County Buildings and other public property of every description, belonging to said Counties of Somerset and Worcester, respectively, and shall be liable for their proportionate shares of the then existing debts and obligations of the said Counties according to the last assessment in said Counties, to be ascertained and apportioned by the Circuit Court of Somerset County, as to the debts and obligations of said County, and by the Circuit Court of Worcester County, as to the debts and obligations of said County, on the petition of the County Commissioners of the said Counties, respec tively; and the property in each part of the said Counties, included in said New County, shall be bound only for the shares of the debts, or obligations of the County, from which it shall be separated. And the Inhabitants of said New County shall also pay the County taxes levied upon them at the time of the creation of such New County, as if such New County had not been created; and on the application of twelve citizens of the proposed County of Wicomico, the Surveyor of Worcester County shall run and locate the line from Meadow Bridge to the Pocomoke River previous to the adoption or rejection of this Constitution, and at the expense of said petitioners.

SEC. 4. At the first general election held under this Constitution, the qualified voters of said New County shall be entitled to elect a Senator and two Delegates to the General Assembly, and all such County, or other Officers as this Constitu tion may authorize, or require to be elected by other Counties of the State; a notice of such election shall be given by the Sheriffs of Worcester and Somerset Counties in the manner now prescribed by Law; and in case said New County shall be established, as aforesaid, then the Counties of Somerset and Worcester shall be entitled to elect but two Delegates each to the General Assembly.

SEC. 5. The County of Wicomico, if formed according to the provisions of this Constitution, shall be embraced in the First Judicial Circuit; and the times for holding the Courts therein shall be fixed and determined by the General Assembly. Sec. 6. The General Assembly shall pass all such Laws as may be necessary more fully to carry into effect the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE XIV.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

SECTION 1. The General Assembly may propose Amendments to this Constitution; provided, that each Amendment shall be embraced in a separate Bill, embodying the Article or Section, as the same will stand when amended and passed by three-fifths of all the members, elected to each of the two Houses, by yeas and nays, to be entered on the Journals with the proposed Amendment. The Bill, or Bills proposing Amendment, or Amendments, shall be published, by order of the Governor, in at least two newspapers in each County where so many may be published, and where not more than one may be published, then in that newspaper, and in three newspapers published in the City of Baltimore, one of which shall be in the German language, once a week, for at least three months preceding the next ensuing general election, at which the said proposed Amendment, or Amendments shall be submitted, in a form to be prescribed by the General Assembly, to the qualified voters of the State for adoption or rejection. The votes cast for and against said proposed Amendment, or Amendments, severally, shall be returned to the Governor, in the manner prescribed in other cases; and if it shall appear to