Chap. 356.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 50 of an act ap-
proved January 31, 1884, to provide a new charter for the city of
Roanoke, in relation to the erection of public buildings for said
city. |

y Approved March 1, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section fifty of an act to provide a new charter for the city of
Roanoke, approved January thirty-first, eighteen hundred and
eighty-four, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as fol-
lows: |

§ 50. The city council may, in the name of and for the use
of the city, contfact loans, or cause to be issued certificates of
debt, or bonds: provided, no such certificates of debt or bonds
shall be issued except by a two-thirds vote of the council, en-
dorsed by a majority of the freehold voters voting on the ques-
tion; but such loan certificates or bonds shall not be irredeem-
able for a period greater than thirty-four years: provided fur-
ther, that said council shall not contract said loan or issue such
certificates of debt or bonds for the purpose of subscribing to
the stock of any company incorporated for a work of internal
improvement or other purpose, without -being first authorized
so to do by three-fourths of the freehold voters of the city vot-
ing on the question: provided further, that in no case shall the
aggregate debt of the city at any one time exceed ten per
centum of the assessed value of the property, real and per-
sonal, within the city limits; and provided further, that the
said council shall not endorse the bonds of any company what-
soever without the same authority. The construction of all
public buildings or other public improvements shall be per-
formed by day labor, under the direction and superintendence
of the city engineer, or such other person as may be designated
by the council, and said engineer or other person designated
shall be controlled therein by such rules and regulations as the
council shall deem necessary and consistent with the prevailing
laws governing labor on public works. But if the council
deem it not to be to the best interests of the city to have such
work done by day labor, then it may be let to contract to the
lowest responsible bidder, after at least thirty days’ notice by
advertisements inserted not less than four times in one or more
newspapers published in the city; and the party to whom said
contract shall be let shall first give such bond as the council
may require, with good security for the faithful compliance
with the terms of the said contract. But in no event shall any
contract be let to any‘member of the council, nor shall any
member of the said council be interested in the profits accruing
therefrom. | |
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.