Chap. 24.—An ACT to amend sections ten and eleven of the charter of
the town of Salem, as heretofore amended. [H B 27]

Approved September 5, 1919.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia That
sections ten and eleven of the charter of the town of Salem as
heretofore amended, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as
follows:

Sec. 10. That the said council shall also have power and au-
thority to make all necessary provisions to prevent accidents by
fire; to designate such parts of said town as it may deem advis-
able within which no building of wood shall be erected; to regu-
late and control the erection of all buildings by ordinance, and to
order the removal of any building which shall hereafter be
erected contrary to such regulations, at the expense of the builder
or owner thereof, and to cause any building which clearly appears
to be unsafe to be taken down, at the expense of the owner
thereof; to supply the town with water for all necessary purposes
to prevent the pollution of water and injuries to the water works,
it shal] have jurisdiction now or as may hereafter be given by
general law to towns for such purpose, to organize fire companies,
and to purchase engines, hose, fire hooks, ladders, and other fix-
tures necessary and useful for preventing accidents by fire; to
establish, enlarge, maintain and operate a system of sewerage,
gas works, electric light works, poorhouse for the reception and
maintenance of the poor and destitute, burying ground and stone
quarry within or without the said town, and to contract or agree
with the owner or owners of land for the use or purchase thereof,
or to have the same condemned according to law for the location,
extension, or enlargement of its said works, water pipes, wire
and fixtures connected therewith, poorhouse, burying ground and
stone quarry, and shall have power by ordinance or otherwise to
protect from injury the said works, pipes, wire, fixtures, poor-
house, burying ground, stone quarry and land, or anything con-
nected therewith, whether within or without the limits of said
town. The council of the said town shall also have power and
authority to negotiate any loan or loans, in the manner prescribed
by law, for the purpose of buying necessary real estate, for the
erection of buildings, for the purchase of any and all material
for its water works, gas, electric light works, poorhouse, bury-
ing ground, stone quarry and sewers, and the construction of
same, and for the general improvement of the town, so that the
amount borrowed shall not exceed that allowed by law; and shall
also have authority to issue registered or coupon bonds for said
loan or loans, payable at not more than thirty years after date
of said bonds, bearing interest at a rate not greater than six per
centum per annum, payable semi-annually.

Authority is also hereby expressly given for the erection of a
public auditorium in said town, to be built exclusively by the
town or in conjunction with the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges
of said town, or either of them, on such site as the council may
deem advisable, but the cost of the site and building shall not ex-
ceed the sum of fifty thousand dollars for the town’s interest
therein. The said council of the town of Salem may also erect
a fire house in the said town for its fire department at « cost not
to exceed ten thousand dollars. Furthermore, authority is here-
by expressly given the council to improve the streets, pavements
and sewer system of the town of Salem at a cost not to exceed the
sum of fifty thousand dollars. In order to enable the said town
to make the several public improvements mentioned in the pre-
ceding part of this paragraph, the council is hereby authorized
to issue and sell bonds of the said town for an amount not exceed-
ing one hundred and ten thousand dollars, the proceeds of which
shall be used by said town for the purposes aforesaid. The bonds
authorized by this paragraph shall be coupon or registered bonds
and shall be issued in such denominations as the council may pre-
scribe; they shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding six per cen-
tum per annum, payable at such times and places as the said coun-
cil may prescribe; they shall be made to mature at the end of
thirty years from their date, but redeemable after fifteen years at
the option of the council at any time; and they shall be signed by
the mayor and countersigned by the clerk of said council for
and in behalf of the said town of Salem, with the seal of the
town attached. But the said council shall not proceed to issue
the bonds mentioned in this paragraph until the question of
whether or not the said bonds shall be so issued and sold for the
purposes named shall first be submitted to the qualified voters
of the town of Salem at a special election to be called by the coun-
cil for that purpose at any time within one year from the passage
of this act, which said special election shall be called by proper
ordinance, and in all other respects be conducted under the gen-
eral laws governing special elections. The ordinance calling said
special election shall recite the total amount of bonds proposed
to be issued, the rate of interest they shall bear and the amount
to be issued for each of the several purposes mentioned in this
paragraph, and said ordinance shall provide that such election
is to be held in order that the qualified voters may vote as to
whether or not there shall be an issue of bonds for any one or
more of the purposes aforesaid and the amount proposed for
each purpose shall be named in the ordinance. The ballots shall
be so arranged as to permit a registered and qualified voter to
vote for or against any one or more or all of said proposed public
improvements. If, at the election to be so called, a majority of
the qualified voters should cast their ballots in favor of the issue
of said bonds for any one or more or all of said purposes, then
the council shall proceed to issue and sell the same as herein pro-
vided. The said council shall prescribe the manner of sale and
the terms upon which said bonds shall be sold, provided the same
shall not be sold for less than par. It shall provide by proper
tax levy or appropriation for the payment of interest on same
and the creation of a sinking fund to retire said bonds at ma-
urity.

The council shall also have power and authority to establish
markets, and regulate the same, to regulate the sale of fresh
meats of all kinds, and to regulate huckstering and peddling upon
the streets of the town; to graduate and pave, or in any other
manner improve the streets, walks, and alleys of said town, and
to have them kept in good order, and properly lighted and paved,
and to require the payment by the property owners benefited by
such works or improvements, of such portion of the cost thereof
as may be allowed by law, and to make such sum lien upon their
real estate, and collectible in the same manner as is hereinafter
provided for the collection of taxes generally; to prevent the
cumbering or obstruction of the streets, sidewalks, allevs, lanes
or bridges in the said town in any manner whatever, and to have
full and complete control of same; to change, direct. and to pro-
tect the water course in said town; to prevent and punish, by
reasonable fines, the practice of firing guns, or in any manner
setting fire to powder within the said town; to regulate and di-
rect the location of all buildings for storing gunpowder, nitro-
glycerine, dynamite, or any other explosives; to regulate and pro-
hibit the exhibition of fireworks and making of bonfires (in sheds
or yards) within the said town; to license and regulate shows
and other public exhibitions. and the same to tax to such extent
as they may deem reasonable and expedient; to prescribe rules
for the orderly building of houses and chimneys; to regulate
blacksmith shops, and all other shops, structures and business
considered likely to occasion accidents by fire, and the erection
of stoves and stovepipes; to regulate the erection of privies, sta-
bles and cowsheds, and to prescribe their location; to regulate
butcher stalls and slaughter houses; to remove and abate nui-
sances within said town at the expense of those who may oc-
casion them, or of the owner or owners of the land whereon the
same may be; to restrain the exercise of any dangerous, offensive
or unwholesome business, trade or employment therein ; to require
and compel the owners or occupants of houses in the town to con-
neet their water closets and water drains with the sewers of the
town, or otherwise comply with such regulations as to sewerage
as the council may prescribe; to prohibit horses, mules, dogs,
cows and other animals from running at large within the limits
of said town; to prohibit and regulate the raising and keeping of
hogs in said town, or any part thereof; to prevent the exhibition
of stud horses and jackasses in said town; to prevent riding,
driving, or movement of horses or other animals or vehicles of
any kind at a fast or improper speed, throwing stones, or com-
mitting any act on the streets, sidewalks or alleys, dangerous to
or annoying to persons on same, and to punish the abuse or cruel
treatment of horses or other animals in said town; to prevent
vice and immorality, obscenity or profanity ; to restrain and pun-
ish drunkards and street beggars and vagrants; to suppress
houses of ill fame and gambling houses, and to punish persons
engaged in gambling; and generally to pass all by-laws, ordi-
nances, or regulations, or orders not contrary to the Constitution
and laws of the United States, or this State, which the said coun-
cil may think necessary and proper for carrying into effect the
foregoing powers, and such other powers as are now or may
hereafter be vested in them by the laws of this State; and to
amend or repeal the same at their pleasure, and to enforce the
observance of such by-laws, ordinances, orders, and regulations,
under penalties not exceeding one hundred dollars, or imprison-
ment not exceeding six months, or both; fines to be recovered,
with costs, in the name of said town, before the mayor, or any
councilman of said town, in the absence of the mayor, and applied
in aid of the taxes imposed upon said town.

sec. 11. The council of said town may appoint annually an
assessor, if deemed necessary, who shall be a qualified voter of
said town, and who shall assess the value of all the real and per-
sonal property in the corporate limits of said town, except the
public lots, lands, and buildings belonging to the county of Roa-
noke, located in the said town, and such other real and personal
property as may be exempt by the law of the State from assess-
ment for taxation. And said council shall have power and au-
thority to levy and collect annually a tax on the real and personal
property and on all other property assessable for local purposes,
in the corporate limits of said town, except the public lots, lands,
and buildings belonging to the county of Roanoke, and on such
other subjects within the said town as are or may be taxed by
the revenue laws of the State, or allowed by this charter, and on
dogs belonging to persons residing in said town, and for the privi-
lege of carrying on any business, trade, or profession within the
corporate limits; provided, that the tax on real estate, personal
property and on all other property assessable for local purposes
shall not be more than sufficient to raise the revenue each year
necessary to defray the legitimate expenses of said town, and that
the poll tax.shall not exceed one dollar on every male resident
over twenty-one years of age in any one year, who is not pen-
sioned by the State for military service; and for the purpose of
carrying on any trade, business, occupation, or profession, within
said town by persons residing without the corporate limits, the
tax shall not exceed in any one year the tax imposed by the said
council on persons residing within the corporate limits for carry-
ing on like business, trade, profession, or occupation. Should
any person carry on any such trade, business, profession, or oc-
cupation without obtaining license therefor and paying the tax
required by ordinance, he shall be prosecuted as for violation of
the ordinances of said town as hereinbefore provided.

2. Inasmuch as there is an urgent need for the public im-
provements authorized by this act, an emergency Is declared to
exist and this act shall take effect from its passage.