Chap. 588.—An ACT to provide for the submission to the people of the pro-
posed amendment to article 10 of the constitution of Virginia with reference
to the tax imposed on any of the citizens of the state for the privilege
of taking or catching oysters from their natural beds with tongs in the
waters thereof, and striking from said article 10 of said constitution the
second clause.

Approved March 5, 1900.

1. Be it enacted bv the general assembly of Virginia, That it shal]
be the duty of the officers conducting the election directed by law to he
held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in Novemher, nineteen
hundred and one, at the places appointed for holding the same, to pro-

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vide a separate ballot box at said election, in which the judges of elec-
tion shall deposit the ballots of all qualified voters voting on amendments
to the constitution, and open the poll to take the sense of the qualified
voters of this commonwealth upon the ratification or rejection of the
amendment to the constitution in relation to the tax imposed on any
of the citizens of the state for the privilege of taking or catching oysters
from their natural beds with tongs in the waters thereof, and directing
a submission of the said proposed amendment to the people for their
approval or ratification—to wit: Strike from the constitution of Vir-
ginia second clause of article ten of said constitution, which is in these
words:

Article 10, section 2.—“ No tax shall be imposed on any of the
citizens of this state for the privilege of taking or catching oysters from
their natural beds with tongs in the waters thereof; but the amount of
sales of oysters so taken by any citizen in any one year may be taxed at
a rate not exceeding the rate of taxation imposed upon any other
species of property.”

Schedule.—At such election each of said voters who shall approve
said amendment shall, on the ballot which he uses to vote at said elec-
tion, which ballot shall be provided and distributed by the secretary
of the commonwealth, have printed the words: “ For the amendment,”
striking from article ten the second section with reference to tax for
tonging oysters from natural rocks. “Against the amendment,” strik-
ing from article ten the second section with reference to tax for tong-
ing oysters from natural rocks.

2. That immediately after closing the polls the said officers shall
count the ballots deposited at said election for and against said pro-
posed amendment, and shall make return thereof at the time and
in the manner provided by law as in the case of other elections, and it
shall be the duty of the clerks and commissioners of election of each
county, respectively, to make out, certify, and forward an abstract of
the votes cast for and against said proposed amendment in the manner
now prescribed bv law in relation to votes cast in a general election.

3. It shall be the duty of the secretarv of the commonwealth and of
the state board of canvassers to open and canvass the said abstract of
returns and to examine and make statement of the whole numbers of
votes given at said election for said proposed amendment and against
said proposed amendment, respectively, in the manner now prescribed bv
law in relation to votes cast in a general election, and it shall be the
duty of the secretary of the commonwealth to record said certificd
statement in his office, and, without delav. to make out and transmit
to the governor of the commonwealth an official copy of said statement,
certified by him under his seal of office.

4. The governor shall, without delav, make proclamation of the
result, stating therein the aggregate vote for and against said amend-
ment, to be published in such newspapers in the state as mav be deemed
requisite for general information, and if a majority of said votes he cast
for the ratification of the amendment he shall annex to his proclama-
tion a copy thereof.

5. The secretary of the commonwealth shall cause to be sent to the
clerks of each county and corporation as many copies of this act as there
are places of voting therein, and it shall be the duty of said clerks to
deliver the same to the sheriffs for distribution, whose duty it shall
be forthwith to post the said copies at some public place in each elec-
then district.

. The expense incurred in conducting this election shall be defraved
as in the case of the election of members of the general assembly.

This act shall be in force from its passage.