Chap. 116.—An ACT to provide, that in addition to the present indebtedness
of the city of Newport News, and to the certificate of debt or bonds, in
which the council is now authorized by law to issue, the common council
of said city shall be empowered to cause to be issued for and in the name
of the said city other certificates of debt or bonds.

Approved January 24, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That in addition
the present indebtedness of the city of Newport Nows and the certi-
ates of debts or bonds which the council of the said city is otherwise
thorized by law to issue, the common council of the said city may,
r and in the name of the said city, cause to be issued certificates of
‘bt or bonds (the form of which shall be prescribed by the council),
rt exceeding, in the aggregate, the amount of one hundred thousand
lars, and bearing a rate of interest not exceeding six per centum per
num, and payable in the discretion of the council in not less than
irtv nor more than forty vears from their date: provided, however,
at the money arising from the sale of the said bonds shall be used and
plied by the said couneil to the paving, curbing and euttering of such
rects of the said city of Newport News as the council of the said city
ay deem advisable and may, by proper ordinance, direct to be so paved,
rbed, and guttered; and provided further, that such certificates of debt
or bonds shall not be issued or be valid, unless and until the question
of issuing the same shall have been first submitted to the legal voters
of the said city for their approval, at an election to be ordered and pro-
vided for by the council, and three-fifths of said legal voters voting at
said election, who shall then own any free-hold estate in real estate in
the said city; and two-thirds of said legal voters voting at said election,
who shall then not own any free-hold estate in real estate in the said
city, shall have voted in favor of the issue of the said certificates of debt
or bonds. The said election shall not be ordered by the council before
the fourth Thursday in May, nineteen hundred and one, and shall be by
viva voce vote, and only those who are legal voters of the said city under
the laws of Virginia, shall have the right to vote. The words “ free-hold
estate,” as uscd in this section, shall be construed to embrace only a full
ownership of the fee-simple at law or in equity, or an estate for life.
The council shall cause to be prepared at least sixty davs prior to anv
election hereunder, a list of the legal voters in the said city owning
such free-hold estate, and shall cause the same to be published in a news-
paper published in the said city for at least four weeks prior to any
such election. The council shall, at least ten days before any such elec-
tion, convene in session and at such session revise and correct such list
if there be errors therein. Such list, when so revised and corrected,
shall be conclusive on any question as to who constitute the legal vote
in said city owning a free-hold estate and entitled to vote at such election.

Said election shall not be held until notice of the time, place and
objects thereof shall have been first given by publication for, at least,
thirty days in a daily newspaper in the said city.

And the said council shall not create or incur any other indebtedness
which has not been provided for in the annual levy of the said city or by
some other act of the general assembly of Virginia.

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