CHAP. 505.—An ACT to amend and re-enact 1015b of an act entitled an act to
amend and re-enact chapter 44 of the Code of Virginia (1887), in relation to
cities and towns, and to repeal sections 1039 and 1040 of the Code of Virginia
and section 1043 of the Code of Virginia, as amended and re-enacted by an act
approved March 4, 1896, and as attempted to be repealed by an act approved
March 7, 1900, and to repeal an act approved March 7, 1900, entitled “an act to
provide for local assessments in cities and towns,” approved May 20, 1903.

Approved December 31, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That ten hun-
dred and fifteen b of an act entitled an act to amend and re-enact chapter
forty-four of the Code of Virginia, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven,
in relation to cities and towns, and to repeal sections ten hundred and
thirty-nine and ten hundred and forty of the Code of Virginia and sec-
tion ten hundred and forty-three of the Code of Virginia, as amended and
re-enacted by an act approved March fourth, eighteen hundred and
ninety-six, and as attempted to be repealed by an act approved March
seventh, nineteen hundred, and to repeal an act approved March seventh,
nineteen hundred, entitled “an act to provide for local assessments in
cities and towns,” approved May twentieth, ninetcen hundred and three,
be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

1015b. Council to reapportion representation among wards, when obli-
gatory upon council to change boundaries of wards.—The council in every
city in the year nineteen hundred and three, and every tenth year there-
after, and also whenever the boundaries of such wards are changed, shall
by ordinance prescribe the number of members of cach branch and re-
apportion the representation of the council among the wards, but s«
to give, as far as practicable, to each ward of such city equal represer
tion in the council thereof, and in each branch of said council in |
portion to the population of each ward. In determining such pop
tion, the council shall be governed by the last United States census
such other enumeration as may be authorized by the general assem
provided, however, that whenever by the last United States census.
other enumeration made by authority of the general assembly, it s
appear that the population in any ward exceeds that of any other w
by as much as three thousand inhabitants, or whenever the corpo:
limits of the city shall be extended or contracted, or whenever, in
opinion of the council, it is necessary, it shall be the duty of the city co
cil to redistrict the city into wards, or so change the boundaries of ex
ing wards, or so increase or diminish the number of wards as that no |
ward shall exceed any other ward in population by more than three th
sand inhabitants. In case of such other enumeration as may be aut
rized by the general assembly, unless otherwise authorized by law,
enumerators shall be named by the judge of the corporation court of s1
city, if there be such court; and if not, by the judge of the circuit co
thereof, or, in case of a town, by the judge of the circuit court of
county in which such town is located: provided, however, that in any
distriction or changing of the boundaries of the wards of the city of N
folk, the councils of the said city shall provide that prior to the twen
second day of February, nineteen hundred and five, the boundaries of
sixth, or Atlantic City ward, and prior to the fourteenth day of Mar
nineteen hundred and seventeen, the boundaries of the seventh. or P:
Place ward, of the said city, shall remain as they now are, irrespective
the comparative population of the said wards.

2. All acts or parts of acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

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