Chap. 630.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 35, chapter 4, and section 40
of chapter 5, of an act entitled an act to provide a new charter for the town of
Wytheville, approved February 26, 1886.

Approved March 1, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
thirty-five of chapter.four and section forty of chapter five of an act en-
titled an act to provide a new charter for the town of Wytheville, ap-
proved February twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Chapter 4, section 35. General duties and powers. —The treasurer may
be required to keep all moneys in his hands belonging to the town in such
place or places of deposit as the council may provide by ordinance,
order, establish or direct. Such money shall be kept separate and dis-
tinct from his own money. And he is hereby expressly prohibited from
using, directly or indirectly, the corporation money or warrants in his
custody or keeping for his own use and benefit or that of any person or
persons whomsvever, and any violation of this provision shall subject
him to immediate removal from office. In case of his removal, the
town council shall elect a qualified person to fill said office for the un-
expired term. The treasurer shall receive such compensation as is now
provided by the council: provided, that he shall not receive an amount
greater than one thousand dollars per annum for his services in collect-
ing taxes, including water and light tickets: and provided further, that
he shall not receive more than fifty dollars per annum for the water and
light tickets. of the town. No person shall be allowed to qualify a
second time as treasurer unless and until he shal! satisfactorily settle his
accounts as treasurer for the preceding term, and, if such settlement be
not made on or before the regular time for his entering upon the duties
of another term, the office shall be considered vacant, and the vacancy
shall be filled as hereinbefore provided.

Chapter 5, section 40. General power of council as to finances.—
The council may, in the name of and for the use of the town, contract
loans or cause to be issued certificates of debt or bonds: provided, no such
certificate of debt or bond shall be issued except by a two-thirds vote of the
council endorsed or authorized by a majority of the frechold voters vot-
ing on the question; but such loans, certificates or bonds shall not be ir-
redeemable for a period greater than thirty-four years: provided, further,
that said council shall not contract said loan or issue such certificates of
debt or bond for the purpose of subscribing to the stock of any company
incorporated for a work of internal improvement, a manufacturing es-
tablishment, or other purpose, without first being authorized to do
so by a two-thirds majority of the freeholders of the town voting to-
gether with a majority of the votes cast on the question: provided, further,
that in no case shall the aggregate debt of the town, at any one time
exceed ten per centum of the assessed value of the property,
real and personal, within the town limits; provided that the said
town, for the purpose of repairing its water system and of ex-
tending its water mains, and for the purpose of funding the present
bonded indebtedness of the town with bonds bearing a lower rate of inter-
est, may create an indebtedness to the extent of fourteen per centum of
the aggregate of the present assessed value of its real and personal prop-
erty: provided, further, that the said council shall have the power to re-
tire the present debt of said town and to refund the present outstanding
bonds of the town, and for that purpose may issue certificates of debt or
bonds bearing a lower rate of interest than six per centum per annum,
redeemable in such time as may seem proper to them, provided that
such bonds shall not be sold at less than their par value: and provided,
further, that the said town shall not issue bonds for the purpose of ex-
tending its water mains, unless at the time such extensions are made thie
amount derived in the way of revenue from said extensions from persons
who agree to take the water for not less than one yearshall be equal to
seven percentum upon the amount to be invested in making said exten-
sion: and provided, further, that no bonds or certificates of debt shall be
issued for the purposes hereinbefore specified unless and until the same
shall have been approved by a two-thirds vote of the council, endorsed
or authorized by a majority of the freehold voters voting on the question,
which said vote of the freeholders, approving the provisions of this act,
may he taken at any time by direction of the council, after thirty days’
notice shall have been published of the time and place of taking said
vote in one or more newspapers published in the town of Wytheville.
All contracts for the erection of public improvements within the jurisdic-
tion of the town council shall be let tothe lowest bidder, and notice shall
be given at least thirty days before the work is finally let by advertise-
ments In one or more newspapers published in the town, and the party
to whom said contract shall be let shall give such bond asthe council
may require; but in no event, shall any contract be let to any member
of the town council, norshall any member have any interest in said con-
tract.
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.