Chap. 49.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 36 of an act approved
April 2, 1902, entitled an act to provide a new charter for the town
of Covington, in the county of Alleghany, and to repeal all other acts
with reference thereto. (H. B. 117.)

Approved February 17, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section thirty-six of the charter of the town of Covington, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Sec. 36. Where, by the provisions of this act, the council
have authority to pass ordinances on any subject, they may pre-
scribe any penalty, not exceeding five hundred dollars, for viola-
tion thereof, or imprisonment in the jail of Alleghany county not
exceeding six months, or both, and may provide that the offender,
on failing to pay any fine prescribed, shall be imprisoned in the
jail of Alleghany county for any term not exceeding ninety days.
Any fine prescribed may be prosecuted and recovered with costs
in the name of the town of Covington; and it may be further
required that the offender, failing to pay his fine and cost, may
be compelled to work on the chain-gang of the town until his
fine and cost be paid, as provided by the laws of this State;
and the council may pass such ordinance, or ordinances, as may
be necessary to authorize and empower the police officers of the
town to incarcerate in the jail of Alleghany county, pending his
trial before the mayor of the town, any person arrested by them
upon a warrant issued by the mayor charging the violation of
any of the town ordinances for the infracuon of which a penalty
is imposed, and any person violating any of such ordinances in
the presence of such police officers.

2. The town authorities being now engaged in the prosecu-
tion of the revenue laws with reference to the illicit sale of in-
toxicating liquors, and it being of the utmost importance to in-
carcerate alleged offenders immediately upon their arrest, this
act is declared an emergency act and shall be in force from its
passage.