Chap. 568.—An ACT to provide for submitting the question of liquor license
wie’ qualified voters of the town of Big Stone Gap, in the county of
se.

Approved March 5, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That upor
the presentation of a petition of such of the qualified voters of the
town of Big Stone Gap, Wise county, as constitute one-fourth of the
persons voting at the preceding town election for town officers, in
term or vacation, to the judge of the county court of Wise county.
said judge shall order a special election in said town, in conformity
with sections five hundred and eighty-one, five hundred and eighty-two.,
five hundred and eighty-three, and five hundred and eighty-four of the
code of Virginia, chapter twenty-five; and if it appear from the abstracts
and returns that a majority of the votes cast at such election were in
favor of liquor license, then a license shall be granted for the sale of
wines, spirituous or malt liquors, or any mixture thereof; if on the
other hand it appear from the abstracts and returns that a majority
of the votes cast at such election were against liquor license, then no
license shall be granted for the sale of wine, spirituous or malt liquors,
or any mixture thereof, within the corporate limits of said town. The
provisions of sections five hundred and eighty-six and five hundred and
eighty-seven of the code of Virginia, chapter twenty-five, shall apply
to such elections held in said town of Big Stone Gap under this act.

2. No election ordered in Richmond magisterial district, in accord-
ance with the provisions of section five hundred and eighty-one, shall
apply to the town of Big Stone Gap; the said town shall hold its own
elections, separate and distinct from Richmond magisterial district, on
the question of granting or not granting liquor license, and if a majority
of the votes cast in said town are in favor of liquor license, then the
judge of the county court of Wise county, if the applicant and place are
suitable, shall grant license and shall have no discretion in the matter.

3. A license tax of eight hundred dollars shall be imposed by the
council of the town of Big Stone Gap for the privilege of selling wines,
spirituous or malt liquors, or any mixture thereof, within the corpora-
tion limits of said town, which sum shall not be increased or diminished
by said council and which said sum must always invariably be paid in
full before said license is issued.

4, This act shall be in force from its passage.