Chap. 154.—An ACT for the issue of thirty thousand dollars of bonds for the
benefit of the fire department of the city of Newport News, and the estab-
lishment of a garbage plant in said city.

Approved January 25, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That in addi-
tion to the present indebtedness of the. city of Newport News, and the
certificates of debt or bonds, which the council of the said city is other-
wise authorized by law to issue, the common council of the said city
may, In the name and for the use of the said city, cause to be issued
certificates of debt or bonds (the form of which shall be prescribed by
the council) in amount of thirty thousand dollars, bearing a rate of
interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, and payable in the
discretion of the council, not less than twenty nor more than forty vears
from their date: provided, however, that the said sum of monev arising
from the sale of the said bonds shall be apportioned between the fire
department of the city of Newport News and a garbage plant or cre-
matory to be established in the said city as to the said council may seem
to be for the best interests of the said city; to be ascertained by a three-
fourths vote of the said council.

But such certificates of debt or bonds shall not be issued or be valid
unless and until the question of issuing the same shall have been first
submitted to the legal voters of the said city for their approval, at an
election to be ordered and provided for by the council, and three-fifths
of said legal voters voting at said election, who shall then own any free-
hold estate in real estate in said citv; and two-thirds of said legal voters
voting at said election, who shall then not own any frechold estate in
real estate in said city, shall have voted in favor of the issue of said
certificates of debt or bonds. Said election shall be by viva voce vote,
and only those who are legal voters of the said citv under the laws of
Virginia, shall have the right to vote. The words “ frechold estate,” as
used in this section, shall be construed to embrace only a full ownership
in fee-simple at law or in equity, or an estate for life. The council shall
cause to be prepared, at least sixty days prior to any election hereunder,
a list of the legal voters in said city owning such freehold estate and
shall cause the same to be published in a newspaper published in the
said city for at least four weeks prior to any such election. The council
shall, at least ten days before anv such election, convene in session, and
at such session revise and correct such list, if there be errors therein
Such list, when so revised and corrected, shall be conclusive on any ques-
tion as to who constitute the legal vote in said city owning a freehold
estate and entitled to vote at such election. .

The said election shall not be held until notice of the time, place and
objects thereof, shall have been first given by publication for at least
thirty days in a daily newspaper published in the said city.

And the said council shall not create or incur any other indebtedness
which has not been provided for in the annual levy of the said city, or
by some other act of the general assembly of Virginia.

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