Chap. 187.—An ACT to Amend the Charter of the Town of Fredericks-
burg.

Approved March 23, 1871.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
for the better government and well ordering of the town of
Fredericksburg, it shall be lawful for the residents thereof,
qualified to vote for all officers elective by the people under
the constitution of this commonwealth, to elect by ballot, on
the fourth Thursday in May, preceding the expiration of their
term of office, the following officers: that is to say, one mayor,
who shall hold his office for two years; twelve councilmen,
who shall hold their offices for one year; one city sergeant,
who shall hold his office for two years; one commissioner of the
revenue, who shall hold his office for two years; and one city
treasurer, who shall hold his office for three years, from the
first day of July succeeding their election. Each of the said
officers shall have the qualifications required by the constitu-
tion of this state for any elective office therein, and shall, when
elected and qualified as hereinafter provided, have the powers,
perform the duties, and be subject to the liabilities and respon-
sibilities prescribed by the general laws of this state, by this
act, and the by-laws and ordinances of said town.

2. The persons so elected shall, before they enter upon the
duties of their offices, respectively, take an oath, or make so-
lemn affirmation, as prescribed by law, before some one autho-
rized to administer oaths, well and truly, faithfully and impar-
tially to do, execute, and perform the duties of their several
offices, according to the best of their skill and judgment, and
file a certificate thereof with the clerk of the council: pro-
vided, that said oath may be taken, and the fact recorded, be-
fore the council at any meeting, and may be administered by
the mayor, or other officer then presiding.

3. That should it so happen that an election of officers as.
above named, be not made at the time prescribed for an elec-
tion, then such election may be ordered by the corporation
court, upon the petition of fifteen or more qualified voters of
said town, ten days’ public notice of the time and place of
election being given: and provided the list of registered vo-
ters residing within the said town shall be previously revised,
as prescribed by law. All officers elected or appointed under
the provisions of this act, shall hold and perform the duties of
their respective offices until their successors, or a legal quorum
thereof, are elected and qualified.

4. The mayor engl preside at the meetings of the council,
or, in his absence, the recorder, or, in the absence of both, one
of the councilmen chosen by a majority of the councilmen then
present. The mayor shall, in case of tie, give the casting vote
upon all questions to be determined by the council. He shall
be the chief executive officer of the town; shall be clothed
with all the powers and authority of a justice of the peace,
In Civil as well as criminal matters arising within the corporate
limits; shall take care that the by-laws and ordinances of the
town are faithfully executed, and shall exercise all the powers
and duties now vested, or which may be hereafter vested, in
mayors of towns of five thousand inhabitants or less. He shall
have control of the police of the town, and may appoint spe-
cial police officers Whenever he deems it necessary; shall have
power to issue process, hear and determine all prosecutions,
cases, and controversies arising under any by-laws and ordi-
nances of the town; to impose fines when authorized by said
by-laws and ordinances, and issue execution for their collec-
tion, saving to the parties the right of appeal to the corpora-
tion court; which appeal, if the fine or other matter or thing
shall exceed the sum of ten dollars, shall be taken in the same
time and manner, and upon the same terms, that appeals are
now taken by law from judgments of a single justice of the

eace.
5. The council shall have power and authority within the
said town to establish markets and regulate the same; to alter
or improve streets, alleys, walks, and bridges, and keep the
same in order; to provide for the lighting of the streets, and
the protection ‘and repair of street lamps and lamp posts; to
provide against and prevent accidents by fire; and for this
purpose, to establish and organize fire companies, purchase en-
gines, and provide such wells or cisterns as may be necessary
to supply the same with water, for the purpose of extinguish-
ing fires; to prevent and punish, by reasonable fines, the prac-
tices of discharging fire-arms, and running horses in said town;
to license and regulate shows and other exhibitions, and the
same to tax in.such reasonable extent and manner as may be
expedient and lawful; to lay off public grounds, and provide
and take care of public buildings, grounds, and cemeteries, and
to establish proper regulations for the management pf such
cemeteries, and charges for the use or sale of lots therein, for
the purpose of providing for the decent maintenance of the
same; to conduct and distribute water into and through said
town; to adopt rules for its own government, and the transac-
tion of its business; to define the powers, prescribe the du-
ties, and fix the term of service and compensation of its ap-
pointees necessary for conducting the affairs of said town, not
otherwise provided for by this act; to fix the salary of the
mayor, and all other officers; but no compensation shall be al-
lowed to any member of the council, except he be acting as
clerk for the council; and finally, to make all such by-laws,
rules, and regulations (not inconsistent with the constitution
and laws of this state or of the United States), as they may
deem necessary and proper for the good government of said
town, and the same to enforce by reasonable fines and penal-
ties, not exceeding, for any one offeuce, the sum of ten dollars,
to be recovered, with costs, in the name of the corporation of
Fredericksburg, under the judgment and order of the mayor,
saving appeal as herein provided to the corporation court, or,
in detault of payment of such fines, the offender may be im-
prisoned in the town jail not more than thirty days.

6..The council shall have power to provide a revenue for
the town and appropriate the same, and for that purpose the
commissioner of the revenue shall make an annual assessment
of taxable persons and property within the town, such as is,
or may hereafter be, subject to taxation by the revenue laws
of this commonwealth; and also on dogs or other animals
running at large.

7. Whenever any thing for which a state license is required
is to be done .in said town, the council may require a town
license therefor, and may impose a tax thereon for the use of
the town. The council may require, from the person 80
licensed, a bond, with sureties, payable to said town, in such
penalties.and with such conditions as it may think proper and
reasonable, and may revoke such license at any time if the
condition of said bond be broken.

8. All fines, penalties, and amercements, and all other money
received or raised by virtue of this act, and not otherwise di-
rected to be applied, shall be at the disposal of the council, for
the use and benefit of said town.

9. That in all suits or prosecutions arising under any by-law,
rule, or regulation made by the council of the said town in
manner aforesaid, when the constitutionality or validity of
such by-law, rule, or regulation shall be contested, appeals shall
be from the judgment of the corporation court of said town
to the supreme court of appeals.

10. That anything in the existing act for incorporating the
town of Fredericksburg, and the acts amendatory thereof, in
conflict with this act, be afd the same is hereby repealed.

11. This act shall be in force from its passage.