PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, GOVERNOR. 171

days after the passage of this Act, such position shall be taken
and regarded as vacant, and shall be filled by appointment by
the Board of County Commissioners within two weeks after
the expiration of said ten days. On the first Monday in May
in the year 1915, and on the same date in every year thereafter,
an election shall be held in the said villages "for the election
of seven members, each of whom shall be a resident taxpayer
upon real or personal property situate in said villages, to be
and constitute the "Friendship Heights Citizens Committee"
for the ensuing year, each of whom shall qualify on the third
Monday in May thereafter by taking an oath, before an officer
of the law duly commissioned to administer same, to diligently
and faithfully discharge the duties of the office. In case any
such person so elected as Committeeman, shall fail to qualify
on the date named, or in case of any vacancy through death,
resignation or otherwise, the said Board of County Commis-
sioners shall fill such vacancy by the appointment of a resident
taxpayer upon real or personal property situate in said vil-
lages, who shall hold office for such term or unexpired term.
That the annual election of said Committeemen, as herein pr./-
vided, shall be held under and in accordance with the laws of the
State of Maryland, but the returns thereof shall be made to
the Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery County;
all resident taxpayers upon real or personal property situate
in the said vilages shall be eligible to vote at such elections;
but such election shall be conducted by three Judges of Elec-
tion and two Clerks, to be appointed by said Committee, who
shall serve without pay, and the polls of said election shall be
open from five o'clock p. m. to nine o'clock p. m., on the first
Monday in May, as hereinbefore provided.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That any member of the
"Friendship Heights Citizens Committee" may be removed by
the Board of County Commissioners upon the charge of mal-
feasance or misfeasance in office, preferred by two or more
members of said Committee, after due notice of said charge
and after an opportunity has been given for defence thereon,
and a hearing to be fixed therefor. The said Treasurer of
said "Friendship Heights Citizens Committee" and other offi-
cers and employees of said villages shall hold their offices or
positions at the pleasure of said "Friendship Heights Citizens
Committee" or in conformity with contracts which may be
made by and between said Committee and such officers or em-
ployees for a period not to extend beyond the limits of the
terms of office of said Committees.