Chap. 68.—An ACT to authorize the issuance of one hundred thousand dol-
lars ($100,000.00) of bonds by the city of Newport News for permanent
street improvements, and to provide what amount ehall be expended in
each ward.

Approved March 1, 1906.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That in addition
to the present indebtedness of the city of Newport News, and the certifi-
cates of debt or bonds, which the council of the said city is otherwise au-
thorized by law to issue: provided, said issue does not exceed the con-
stitutional limit, the council of the said city may, by a three-fourth vote
of each branch, 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) to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00), bearing a rate of interest not exceeding six per centum
per annum, and payable, in the discretion of the council, not less than
thirty nor more than forty years from their date: provided, however,
that the said sum of money arising from the sale of said bonds shall be
expended in permanent street improvements, and be apportioned be-
tween the four wards of the said city, so that not more than twenty-
seven thousand and five hundred dollars ($27,500) nor less than twenty-
two thousand and five hundred dollars ($22,500) shall be expended in
such improvements in any ward of the city; and a sinking fund shall
he created and maintained sufficient to redeem said bonds at maturity.
and shall be applied to such redemption, and to no other purpose.

2 But such certificates of debts or bonds shall not be issued or be
valid unless and until the question of issuing the same shall have been
first subimitted 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 qualified voters voting at said election, who shall then own any
freehold estate in said city; and a majority of said legal voters voting at
said election, who shall then not own any freehold estate in said city, shall
have voted in favor of the issue of said certificates of debts or honds.
At'said election only those who are legal voters of the said city under the
laws of Virginia shall have the right to vote. The words “freehold
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 of 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 free
hold estate, and shall cause the same to be published in a newspaper pub-
lished in the said city for at least four weeks prior to any such election.
The council shall, at least ten days before any 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 question as to who constitute the legal vote in said city owning a free-
hold estate and entitled to vote at such election.

3. 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.

4. And the said council shall not create or incur any other intlebted-
ness 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.