Chap. 167.—An ACT for the issuing of $100,000 of bonds, to purchase land, and
to build and erect thereon a market-house, armory, council chamber, and city
oftices, or otherwise acquire the same, and to provide a circuit court-room in
the present courthouse building, and provide a fire-proof yault for the records
of the corporation and circuit courts, and for the furnishing and equipping of
the said new buildings in the city of Newport News.

Approved April 22, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That in addition
to the present indebtedness of the city of Newport News, and the certi-
ficates of debt or bonds which the council of the said city is otherwise au-
thorized by law to issue, the council of the said city may, by a three-
fourths vote of all its members, in the name and for the use of said city,
cause to be issued certificates of debt or bonds (the form of which shall be
prescribed by the council), in the amount of one hundred thousand dol-
lars, payable in United States currency, bearing a rate of interest not ex-
ceeding six per centum per annum, and payable in the discretion of the
council in not less than forty nor more than fifty years. But such certi-
ficates of debt or bonds shall not be issued or be valid, unless and until
the question of issuing the same shall have first been submitted to the
legal voters of the said city for their approval, at an election to be ordered
and provided for by the council, and three-fifths of said legal voters vot-
ing at said election, who shall then own any frechold estate in real estate
in said city; and two-thirds of said legal voters voting at said election,
who shall then not own any freehold estate in real estate in said city, shall
have voted in favor of the issue of said certificates of debt or bonds. Said
election shall be by viva voce vote,and only those whoare legal voters of the
said city under the laws of Virginia shall have the right to vote. The
words “freehold estate,” as used in this section, shall be construed to em-
brace only a full ownership in fee simple, at law or in equity, or an estate
for life. The council shall cause to be prepared, at least sixty days prior
to any election hereunder, a list of the legal voters in said city owning
such freehold estate, and shall cause the same to be published in a news-
paper published in the said city for at least four weeks prior to any such
election. The council shall, at least ten days before any such election,
convene in session, and at such session revise and correct such list, if there
be errors therein. Such list, when so revised and corrected, shall be con-
clusive on any question as to who constitute the legal vote in said city
owning a freehold estate and entitled to vote at such election.

The said election shall not be held until notice of the time, place, and
objects thereof shall have been first given by publication for at least thirty
days in a daily newspaper published in the said city.

The said council is authorized to expend the money realized from the
sale of the said bonds to purchase land and to build and erect thereon a
market-house, armory, council chamber and city offices, or otherwise ac-
quire the same, and to provide a circuit court room in the present court-
house building, and provide a fire-proof vault for the records of the circuit
and corporation courts, and to furnish and equip said buildings.

And the said council shall not create or incur any other indebtedness
which has not been provided for in the annual levy of the said city, or by
some other act of the general assembly. ,