Chap. 48.—JOINT RESOLUTION proposing amendments to sections 119 and 120
of article 8 of the Constitution of Virginia, and providing for publishing said
amendments and certifying the same to the next general assembly.

Approved February 19, 1908.

Resolved by the senate and house of delegates (a majority of the
members elected to each house agreeing), That the following amendments
to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same are hereby proposed,
and referred to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general
election of senators and members of the house of delegates for its con-
currence, in conformity with the provisions of section one hundred and
ninety-six of article fifteen of said Constitution, namely:

Strike out from the Constitution of Virginia section one hundred
and nineteen and one hundred and twenty which are in the following
words:

§119. In every city, so long as it has a corporation court, or a separate
circuit court, there shall be elected for a term of four years by the
qualified voters of such city, one attorney for the Commonwealth, who
shall also, in those cities having a separate circuit court, be the attorney
for the Commonwealth, for such circuit court.

In every city there shall be elected, or appointed, for a term of four
years, in a manner to be provided by law, one commissioner of revenue,
whose duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law, but should he
be elected by the people, he shall be ineligible for re-election to the office
for the next succeeding term.

§120. In every city there shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof
one city treasurer, for a term of four years, but he shall not be eligible
for more than two consecutive terms, nor act as deputy for his immediate
successor, one city sergeant, for a term of four years, whose duties shall
be prescribed by law; and a mayor, for a term of four years, who shall
be the chief executive officer of such city. All city and town officers,
whose election or appointment is not provided for by this Constitution,
shall be elected by the electors of such cities and towns, or of some divi-
sion thereof, or appointed by such authorities thereof as the general as-
sembly shall designate.

The mayor shall see that the duties of the various city officers, mem-
bers of the police and fire departments, whether elected or appointed, in
and for such city, are faithfully performed. He shall have power to in-
vestigate their acts, have access to all books and documents in their
offices, and may examine them and their subordinates on oath. The
evidence given by persons so examined shall not be used against them
in any criminal proceedings. He shall also have power to suspend such
officers and the members of the police and fire departments, and to re-
move such officers, and also such members of said departments when
authorized by the general assembly, for misconduct in office or neglect
of duty, to be specified in the order of suspension or removal, but no such
removal shall be made without reasonable notice to the officer complained
of, and an opportunity afforded to be heard in person, or by counsel and to
present testimony in his defense. From such order of suspension or re-
moval, the city officer so suspended or removed shall have an appeal of
right to the corporation court, or, if there be no such court, to the cir-
cuit court, of such city, in which court the case shall be heard de novo
by the judge thereof, whose decision shall be final. He shall have all
other powers and duties which may be conferred and imposed upon him
by general laws.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

§119. In every city, so long as it has a corporation court, or a separate
circuit court, there shall be elected for a term of four years by the quali-
fied voters of such city, one attorney for the Commonwealth, who shall
also, in those cities having a separate circuit court, be the attorney for
the Comonwealth, for such circuit court.

In every city there shall be elected for a term of four years, in a
manner to be provided by law, one commissioner of revenue, whose
duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law.

§120. In every city there shall be elected by the qualified voters there-
of one city treasurer, for a term of four years, one city sergeant, for a
term of four years, whose duties shall be prescribed by law; and a
mayor, for a term of four years, who shall be the chief executive officer
of such city. All city and town officers, whose election or appointment
is not provided for by this Constitution, shall be elected by the electors
of such cities and towns, or of some division thereof, or appointed by
such authorities thereof as the general assembly shall designate.

The mayor shall see that the duties of the various city officers, members
of the police and fire departments, whether elected or appointed, in and
for such city, are faithfully performed. He shall have power to inves-
tigate their acts, have access to all books and documents in their offices,
and may examine them and their subordinates: on oath. The evidence
given by persons so examined shall not be used against them in any
criminal proceedings. He shall also have power to suspend such officers
and the members of the police and fire departments, and to remove such
officers, and also such members of said departments when authorized by
the general assembly, for misconduct in office or neglect of duty, to be
specified in the order of suspension or removal ; but no such removal shall
be made without reasonable notice to the officer complained of, and an
opportunity afforded him to be heard in person, or by counsel, and to
present testimony in his defense. From such order of suspension or re-
moval, the city officer so suspended or removed shall have an appeal
of right to the corporation court, or, if there be no such court, to the
circuit court of such city, in which court the case shall be heard de novo by
the judge thereof, whose decision shall be final. He shall have all the other
powers and duties which may be conferred and imposed upon him by
general laws. ‘