Chap. 37.—An ACT ratifying and confirming a resolution of the council of the
city of Portsmouth adopted in relation to the terms of its members.

Approved January 9, 1896.

1. Whereas by section twelve of an act of the general assembly of
Virginia, approved February twenty-third, eighteen hundred and
ninety-four, entitled an act to amend and re-enact sections three,
fourteen, seventeen, sixth subject of sections seventeen, thirty-four
and fifty-nine of the charter of the city of Portsmouth, approved
March sixth, eighteen hundred and eighty-two, and section twelve
of said charter as amended by an act in force January twenty-eighth,
eighteen hundred and eighty-four, it is provided:

§ 12. The council of the city of Portsmouth shall consist of nine-
teen members, to be elected from the different wards, as follows:
four from the first ward, six from the second ward, three from the
third ward, four from the fourth ward, and two from the fifth ward.
At the election to be held on the fourth Thursday in May, eighteen
hundred and ninety-five, there shall be elected from the first ward,
two councilmen; from the second ward, three councilmen ; from the
third ward, two councilmen; from the fourth ward, two councilmen;
and from the fifth ward, one councilman, who shall hold office for
the term of one year. And at the said election there shall be elected
from the first ward, two councilmen; from the second ward, three
councilmen; from the third ward, one councilman; from the fourth
ward, two councilmen; and from the fifth ward, one councilman, who
shall hold office for the term of three years. And at the election to
be held on the fourth Thursday in May, eighteen hundred and ninety-
six, and every four years thereafter, there shall be elected from the
first ward, two councilmen; from the second ward, three council-
men; from the third ward, two councilmen; from the fourth ward,
two councilmen; and from the fifth ward, one councilman. And at
the election to be held on the fourth Thursday in May, eighteen hun-
dred and ninety-eight, and every four years thereafter, there shall
be elected from the first ward, two councilmen; from the second
ward three councilmen; from the third ward, one councilman ; from
the fourth ward, two councilmen; and from the fifth ward, one coun-
cilman. The councilmen chosen shall, at the time of their election,
and during their continuance in office, be residents of the ward from
which they are chosen; they shall be elected by the voters qualified
to vote for councilmen as hereinbefore provided, who are residents
of the respective wards for which such councilmen are chosen. The
qualification of any person or persons elected as councilmen shall
ie judged of by the council and determined by a majority vote
thereof.

And whereas at the election held’on the fourth Thursday in May,
eighteen hundred and ninety-five, the said councilmen were not
elected in respect to their terms of office, in accordance with the
provisions of said section twelve, but all of the said councilmen were
elected without reference to their respective terms of office; and
whereas at a meeting of the council of the city of Portsmouth, held
on the third day of December, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, a
resolution was unanimously adopted designating J. Davis Reed and
G. M. Reynolds from the first ward; Joseph F. Weaver, Charles E.
Murden and John H. Hume from the second ward; Charles E. Out-
ten from the third ward; John J. King and A. W. Moore from the
fourth ward; and W. V. H. Williams from the fifth ward as the
councilmen who should hold office for the term of one year under
provision of said section twelve; and also designating C. S. Minter
and J. W. Ashton from the first ward; C. S. Sherwood, C. W. Wal!::~
and D. W. Ballentine from the second ward; George M. Turner and
W. A. Green from the third ward; L. C. Brinston and Samuel T.
Montague from the fourth ward; and W. H. Moore from the fifth
ward, as the councilmen who should hold office for the term of three
years under the provision of said section twelve: now, therefore,

1..Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
resolution of the council of the city of Portsmouth adopted at a
meeting held December third, eighteen hundred and ninety-five,
designating which of its members should hold office for the term of
one year, and which of its members should hold office for the term
of three years under provision of section twelve of the act approved
February twenty-third, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, be, and
the same is hereby, approved, ratified and confirmed; and that the
terms of office of J. Davis Reed, G. M. Reynolds, Joseph F. Weaver,
Charles E. Murden, John H. Hume, Charles E. Outten, John J.
King, A. W. Moore and W. V. H. Williams, who were designated by
said resolution to hold office for the term of one year, shall expire
on the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and ninety-six; and
that the terms of office of C. S. Minter, J. W. Ashton, C. 8. Sher-
wood, C. W. Walker, D. W. Ballentine, George M. Turner, W. A.
Green, L. C. Brinston, Samuel T. Montague and W. H. Moore, who
were designated by said resolution to hold office for the term of three
years, shall expire on the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred
and ninety-eight.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.