Chap. 33.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 10, 11 and 23 of the charter
of the town of Salem, as heretofore amended. [H B 89]

Approved February 17, 1922.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sections
ten, eleven and twenty-three 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 have power and authority to
make all necessary provisions to prevent accidents by fire; to desig-
nate such parts of said town as it may deem advisable within which
no building of wood shall be erected; to regulate 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 shall 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 fixtures necessary and useful for preventing accidents by fire:
to establish, enlarge, maintain and operate a system of sewerage.
gas works, electric light works, purchase or erect, operate and main-
tain a telephone system to be owned and operated by the council of
the town of Salem, within and without the limits of said town
of Salem, poorhouse for the reception and maintenance of the poot
and destitute, burying ground and stone quarry within and without
the said town, and to contract or agree with the owner or owner:
of land for the use or purchase thereof, or to have the same con
demned according to law for the location, extension, or enlargemen
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, poorhouse, burying ground, stone quarry and
land, or anything connected 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, burying
ground, stone quarry and sewers, bridges, streets, side walks and
alleys, and the construction of same, and for the purchase or erection,
operation and maintenance of a telephone system, and for the general
improvement of the town, so that the amount borrowed shall not
exceed that allowed by law, and shall have authority to issue regis-
tered 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.
But the said council shall not proceed to issue the bonds mentioned
in this section 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 council for that purpose, which said special election
shall be called by proper ordinance, and in all other respects be con-
ducted under the general laws governing special elections. The ordi-
nance 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 section, 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 ballot 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 provided. The said council shall prescribe the manner of sale
and 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 maturity.

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 improve-
ments, of such portion of the cost thereof as may'be allowed by law,
and to make such sum a lien upon their real estate and collectible in
the same manner as hereinafter provided for the collection of taxes
generally; to prevent the cumbering or obstruction of the street,
sidewalks, alleys, lanes or bridges in the said town in any manner
whatever, and to have full and complete control of same; to change,
direct, and protect the water courses in said town; to prevent and
punish, by reasonable fines, the practice of firing guns, or in any
manner setting fire to powder within said town; to regulate and direct
the location of all buildings for storing gunpowder, nitroglycerine,
dynamite, or any other explosive; to regulate and prohibit the exhibi-
tion of fireworks and making of bonfires (in sheds or yards) within
the said town; to license and regulate shows and other exhibitions and
the same to be taxed 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, struct-
ures and businesses considered likely to occasion accidents by fire,
and the erection of stoves and stovepipes, to regulate the erection
of privies, stables and cowsheds, and to prescribe .their location;
to regulate butcher stalls and slaughter houses; to remove and abate
nuisances within said town at the expense of those who may occasion
them, or 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 connect 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 committing 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 punish drunkards and street beggars and vagrants; to suppress
houses of ill fame and gambling houses, and to punish persons en-
gaged in gambling; generally to pass all by-laws, ordinances, or regu-
lations, or orders not contrary to the Constitution and laws of the
United States, or this State, which the said council may think neces-
sary 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 penaltics not exceeding one hundred
dollars, or imprisonment 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 as-
sessor, if deemed necessary, who shall be a qualified voter of said
town, and who shall assess the value of all the real and personal
property in the corporate limits of said town except the public lots,
lands, and buildings belonging to the county of Roanoke, Jocated in
said town, and such other real and personal property as may be
exempt by law of the State from assessment for taxation. And said
council shall have power and authority 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 privilege 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 pur-
poses 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 and female resident
over twenty-one years of age in any one year, who is not pensioned
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 carrying on like business,
trade, profession or occupation. Should any person carry on any such
trade, business, profession, or occupation without obtaining license
therefor and paying the tax required by ordinance, he shall be prose-
cuted'as for violation of the ordinances of said town as hereinbefore
provided. |

Sec. 23. The said council shall have power by proper ordinance
to prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offering for sale, transportation,
keeping for sale, of ardent spirits, and drinking in public places, and
concealing ardent spirits, and for the violation of any such ordinance
there may be imposed by said council such fines and penalties, not
less than fifty dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and im-
prisonment not less than one nor more than six months.

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