Chap. 879.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 923 of the code of Virginia, as
amended by an act approved February 16, 1892, entitled an act to amend and
re-enact section 923 of the code of Virginia, in regard to the appointment and
qualification of notaries public.

Approved March 3, 1898.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section nine
hundred and twenty-three of the code of Virginia, as amended by an act
approved February sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, entitled
an act to amend and re-enact section nine hundred and twenty-three of
the code of Virginia, in regard to the appointment of notaries public, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 923. The governor shall appoint in and for the separate counties and
cities of the state as many notaries as to him shall seem proper, who shall
hold office for the term of four years, and who shall exercise the powers
and functions of conservators of the peace; and he may appoint the same
person to serve for two or more counties and cities: provided, that nota-
ries in cities, and in counties in which cities, or parts thereof, are located
shall have authority to act as such in each of said localities, or for one
county and city. Every notary shall give bond in the county court of
the county or hustings court of the city for which the said notary 1s ap-
pointed, or before the judge of such court in vacation, within four months
from the date of said notary’s commission, in a penalty of not less than
five hundred dollars; and the clerk of said court shall immediately for-
ward a certified copy of said bond to the secretary of the commonwealth.
The removal of a notary from the county or corporation in which said
notary resides when appointed, unless such removal be into another
county or city for which said notary may have been also appointed, shall
be construed as a vacation of said oflice, and the clerk of said county or
city shall at once inform the governor of the fact as well as of all deaths
of notaries that may occur.

2. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the commonwealth, when a
commission is ordered by the governor, to send the same to the clerk of
the court of the county or city in which the notary public is required to
qualify, to be delivered by him to the notary public after said notary
public has given hond and taken the oath of office, and the clerk of the
court in which this is done shall be required forthwith to report the fact
to the secretary of the commonwealth, who shall be required to keep a
book, stating the names and number of notaries public, when appointed
and when qualified.

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