Chap. 389.—An ACT to amend the charter of the citv of Fredericksburg, in rela-
tion to justices of the peace, police justice, constables, and the police of said
city, and in relation to the office of mayor.

Approved February 18, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That there shall
be elected on the fourth Thursday in May, cighteen hundred and ninety-
eicht, and every two years thereafter, eight justices of the peace for the
citv of Fredericksburg, four of such justices from each of the two wards
of said city, by the qualified voters of their respective wards; said jus-
tices shall be residents of the ward for which they are chosen, and shall
hold their office for the term of two years from the first day of July
next ensuing their election, unless sooner removed by death, resignation,
or other cause; and any vacancies in said office shall be filled for the un-
expired term by the council from residents of the ward in which such

vacancies occur.

2. There may he elected by the council of said city, if at any time
the council shall deem the same expedient, a police justice, whose term
of office shall not exceed four years, and said council may fix his com-
pensation, and he may be removed from office at the pleasure of the
council.

3. The justices of the peace, and the police justice, if the council shall
appoint one, shall, in addition to the powers conferred on justices of the
peace and on police justices of cities by the law, have power to issue
process, hear and determine all prosecutions, cases, and controversies
arising under the ordinances and by-laws of the city; to impose fines
when authorized by said ordinances and by-laws, and issue execution for
their collection, 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 the judg-
ments of asingle justice of the peace.

4. The said council of said city may from time to time appoint one
or more constables; and said council may also appoint as many police
officers as it may deem necessary, prescribe the duties and fix compen-
sation of said police officers, and any of said officers may be remigwed
from office at the pleasure of the council.

do. The said policemen shall generally have power to do whatever may
be necessary to preserve the good order and peace of the said city, and
to secure its inhabitants from personal violence and their property from
loss and injury, and they shall in criminal cases have the same powers
and duties, and be subject to the same penalties that are prescribed by
law as to constables; and that are prescribed by section three thousand
nine hundred and tw enty-seven of the codeas to police.

6. The mayor of said city shall enter upon the duties of his office on
the first day of July next, ensuing the May election at which he is
elected; and if said mavor shall fail to qualify before said last-mentioned
date, or if after his election he shall die or resign or become otherwise
disqualified to discharge the duties of said office, then and in all such
events the council of said city may, and is hereby, declared to be their
duty as soon thereafter as they may see fit, to elect some other person in
his stead to fill the unexpired term of such mayor.

7. This act shall be ip force from its passage.