CHAP. 306.—An ACT to amend and re-enact an act entitled “an act to
amend «nd re-enact section 854 of the Code of Virginia, as heretofore
amendcd, approved March 14, 1908, approved March 16, 1910.

Approved March 14, 1912.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section eight hundred and thirty-four of the Code of Virginia,
as amended and re-enacted by chapter five hundred and thirty-
five of acts of assembly, session nineteen hundred and two, three
and four, approved December thirty-first, nineteen hundred and
three, as amended and re-enacted by chapter one hundred and
eleven of the acts of assembly, session nineteen hundred and six,
approved March ninth, nineteen hundred and six, and as amended
and re-enacted by an act approved March fourteenth, nineteen
hundred and eight, and as amended by an act approved March
sixteenth, nineteen hundred and ten, be amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:

$834. What board may do at any meeting.—The board of su-
pervisors of each county shall have power at their regular meet-
ings, or at any other legal meeting:

First. To buy, sell, and so forth, corporate property; how
sale made; provide farm for poor; control the courthouse; to
sell or exchange and convey the corporate property of the county;
to purchase any such real estate as may be necessary for the
erection of all necessary county buildings; to provide a suitable
farm as a place of general reception for the poor of the county,
and to make such orders as they may deem expedient concerning
such corporate property as now exists, or may hereafter be ac-
quired; provided, that no sale of such property shall be made
except by public auction, due notice of the time and place of which
shall be given by publication for at least once a week for four
successive weeks, in some newspaper published in the county,
if there is one so published, and by handbill posted at the front
door of the courthouse and each voting place of the county for at
least four weeks prior to such sales; and all sales, exchanges and
purchases of corporate property made by the board shall be sub-
ject to the approval and ratification of the circuit court. It shall
not be lawful for any supervisor of the county to be personally
or pecuniarily interested, either directly or indirectly, in such
sale, exchange or purchase of corporate property. But this sec-
tion shall not be construed to deprive the judge of the right to
control the use of the courthouse of the county during the term
of his court therein.

Second. Allow claims and issue warrants therefor; interest
not allowed on warrants.—To examine, settle and allow all ac-
counts chargeable against such county, and, when so settled,
issue warrants therefor, as provided by law; but the board of
supervisors of any county shall not issue in any one year a greater
amount of warrants than the amount of county tax levied for
such year; provided, that if the county treasurer shall have in
his hands at any time a surplus of county funds, the said board,
in addition to the amount of county tax levied for such year may
issue warrants to the amount of such surplus, but no more, and
no interest shall be paid by any county on any county warrant.

Third. Build and repair buildings.—To build and keep in
repair county buildings.

Fourth. Provide temporary offices when necessary; insure
building; fix allowances to ofticers.—To cause the county build-
ings to be insured in the name of the board of supervisors of said
county and their successors in office, for the benefit of the
county, if they shall deem it expedient; and if there are no pub-
lic buildings to provide temporary suitable rooms for the county
purposes; to determine what annual allowances, not less in any
case, to sheriffs and clerks of their respective counties, than
three hundred dollars, and to attorneys for the commonwealth of
their respective counties not less in any case than four hundred
dollars, payable out of the county treasury, shall be made sever-
ally to the sheriffs, clerks and attorneys for the commonwealth
of their respective counties (and also in their discretion to deter-
mine what annual allowances, if any, payable out of the county
treasury, in counties having over forty thousand inhabitants,
shall be made to the circuit court judge, if he reside in the county,
for office rent, fuel, lights, stationery and other contingent office
expenses), so that in counties containing a population of ten
thousand and less, the allowance to each of said officers shall not
exceed five hundred dollars; in counties containing ten and less
than fifteen thousand, six hundred dollars; in counties containing
fifteen and less than twenty thousand, seven hundred dollars:
and in counties of more than twenty thousand and less than forty
thousand, eight hundred dollars; and in counties over forty
thousand, fifteen hundred dollars; provided, however, that in the
counties of Alexandria, Fairfax, Rockingham, Henrico, Wise,
Elizabeth City, the annual allowance for the attorney for the
commonwealth shall be fixed at a sum not exceeding one thousand
dollars; in the county of Norfolk at a sum not exceeding fifteen
hundred dollars, and in the county of Russell, at a sum not ex-
ceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars; and in the county of
Washington, at a sum not less than seven hundred dollars; and
provided, further, that in the counties of Henrico and Chester-
field the annual allowance for the county clerk shall be fixed at a
sum not exceeding one thousand dollars, and in the county of
Elizabeth City, at a sum not exceeding eighteen hundred dollars;
and in the county of Washington, at a sum not less than seven
hundred dollars; and provided, further, that in the counties of
Henrico, Norfolk and Pittsylvania the annual allowance for
sheriff shall be fixed at a sum of not exceeding fifteen hundred
dollars; in the county of Elizabeth City, at a sum not exceeding
twelve hundred dollars; and in the county of Chesterfield, at a
sum not exceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars; and in the
county of Washington, at a sum not less than seven hundred dol-
lars; provided, further, that in the counties containing a popu-
lation of forty-five thousand or more, the allowance to the sheriff
shall not be less than twelve hundred dollars.

Fifth. Raise money for county expenses.—To direct the rais-
ing of such sums as may be necessary to defray the county
charges and expenses and all necessary charges incident to or
arising from the execution of their lawful authority.

Sixth. Protect county property; employ assistant counsel.—
To represent the county and have the care of the county prop-
erty and the management of the business and concerns of the
county, in all cases where no other provision shall be made, and,
when necessary, to employ counsel to assist the attorney for the
commonwealth in any suit against the county, or in any matter
affecting county property where the board is opinioned that such
counsel is needed.

Seventh. Award premiums for scalps.—To award, in their
discretion, a premium not exceeding ten dollars for each wolf
scalp; not exceeding one dollar and fifty cents for each scalp of
wild cat, catamount, or red fox; not exceeding seventy-five cents
for each scalp of gray fox, and not exceeding fifty cents for each
scalp of chicken hawk, or owl, except screech owl, upon satis-
factory evidence that the same were, respectively, killed within
the limits of the county, and by the-person in whose behalf the
same may be presented to be paid on warrant of said board on
the county treasurer.

Eighth. Provide subsistence in time of want.—To provide,
under such regulations as the board may prescribe, means of sub-
sistence for those threatened with starvation, and unable to pro-
vide for themselves, and to make an order for all levies neces-
sary to carry out this provision. All contracts for this purpose
shall be reduced to writing, signed by the chairman, and be evi-
dence against the county.

Ninth. To appropriate out of the general levy, except the
school fund, and expend annually such sums of money as their
judgment may warrant to aid and assist in the erection and
maintenance of suitable armories for companies of Virginia vol-
unteers, or otherwise contribute towards the assistance and main-
tenance of such companies as may have their company stations
and existence within the county limits.

2. All other acts or parts of this act in conflict with this act
are hereby repealed.