CHAP. 156.—An ACT authorizing the city of Hampton, Virginia, to borrow
money and issue bonds therefor to the amount of $75,000.00, for the
purpose of extending and improving the present sewer system and of
constructing a new sewer system and other permanent improvements,
together with the right to acquire by purchase, condemnation or
otherwise such real estate and other property rights as may be neces-
sary to be used in connection with such improvements, whether the
same be within or without the corporate limits of said city.

(H. B. 197.)
Approved March 11, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the common council of the city of Hampton, Virginia, be and is
hereby authorized to issue and sell upon the faith, credit and
property of said city coupon bonds to an amount not to exceed
seventy-five thousand ($75,000) dollars; such bonds shall be
sold at not less than par and bear interest at a rate not to ex-
ceed five per centum per annum, and shall be payable not less
than twenty years nor more than fifty years after date; but such
bonds may be made payable at the call of the common council
of said city at any time after twenty years from date; provided
such provision be inserted in said bond; they may be issued at
such time and in such series as the common council may elect.
The purchaser or purchasers of said bonds under authority of
this act shall not be required to see to the appropriation and ex-
penditure of the proceeds of the same.

The proceeds of the sale of the bonds hereby authorized
shall be applied by and under the direction of the common coun-
cil of said city for the purpose of extending and improving the
present sewer system and of constructing and equipping a new
sewer system for the said city, and other permanent improve-
ments that may be determined by the council, together with the
right to acquire by purchase, condemnation or otherwise such
real estate and other property rights as may be necessary to be
used in connection with such sewer and other permanent im-
provements, whether the same be within or without the corpo-
rate limits of said city.

3. Such bonds shall be of the denomination of one thousand
dollars ($1,000), each, and in such form as the common council
may determine; each of said bonds shall be signed by the mayor
and countersigned by the city clerk of said city with the cor-
porate seal affixed. The coupons of said bonds shall be received
in payment of all dues and taxes levied or assessed by the muni-
cipal authorities of said city. The common council of said city
is hereby authorized and directed to annually levy a tax suffi-
cient to pay the interest on said bonds, and create a sinking
fund sufficient to provide for the redemption and payment at
maturity of such bonds as may be issued hereunder.

But this act shall not become effective except and unless
at an election to be held for the purpose, as hereinafter pro-
vided, a majority of the persons voting at such election shall
vote in favor of the bond issue hereby authorized. The common
council of said city shall determine by ordinance, a majority of
all the members voting therefor upon a recorded vote, the sum,
not exceeding seventy-five thousand ($75,000) dollars, neces-
sary for the extension and construction of such proposed sewer
system and such other permanent improvements, including the
acquisition of such land and other property rights necessary,
and setting forth the amount needed for each class; and in said
ordinance the said council shall also request the circuit court
having jurisdiction in said city, or the judge thereof in vacation,
to order an election upon such proposed bond issue not to ex-
ceed the amount named in such ordinance. Upon the written
petition of the said council of said city, signed by the presiding
officer thereof, and accompanied by a certified copy of said ordi-
nance, presented to the circuit court having jurisdiction in said
city, in term time, or to the judge thereof in vacation, asking
that an election be held for the purpose of passing upon such
proposed bond issue, not to exceed the amount named in said
ordinance, the court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall enter
an order directing that such an election be held on a day to be
named in said order not less than thirty nor more than sixty
days from the entering of the same upon which said election
shall be held. A copy of the said order shall be posted for at
least thirty days in front of the court house door and at three or
more public places in said city, and shall be published in such
newspaper or newspapers and for such length of time as the
said court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall deem proper. A
copy of said order shall also be served upon the chairman of the
electoral board of said city.

Such election shall be conducted in the manner prescribed
by law for the conduct of regular elections and by the regular
election officers of such municipality. The election shall be by
secret ballot and there shall be separate ballots for each class
of improvements voted upon and each ballot shall contain the
following: “For proposed bond issue (class or description of
improvements to be inserted)” and “Against proposed bond
issue (class or description of improvements to be inserted)”
and the drawing of a line through the word ‘for’ or “against”
or any part thereof shall be sufficient to indicate the wishes of
the person voting. Returns of the election showing the total
vote for and against the proposed bond issue for each class of
improvement voted upon shall be certified by the commissioners:
of election, or their clerk, to the court, or to the judge thereof
in vacation; an order shall be entered showing the result of
such election and a certified copy thereof shall be furnished the
presiding officer of the common council of said city; and such
order shall be spread upon and become a part of the minutes of
said council. If a majority of the persons voting at such elec-
tion shall be in favor of such proposed bond issue as to any
one or more of the improvements voted upon the council of said
city, upon the receipt of a certified copy of the order to that
effect, shall be fully authorized to issue and sell such bonds per-
mitted under this act as shall have been authorized at such elec-
tion, and take all necessary steps in connection therewith as it
may deem proper, as herein provided; provided, however, that
the total amount of bonds to be issued and sold shall not exceed
the amount set out in the ordinance requesting such election.

6. If the council shall so elect, it may request a separate
election to be held at different time upvon each class of improve-
ments that may be determined upon by said council; such elec-
tion or elections, and such steps as may be necessary in connec-
tion therewith, to be according to the provisions herein set out.

7. By reason of the fact that the city of Hampton is about
to install a new sewer svstem and make other permanent im-
provements, it is hereby declared that an emergency exists and
that this act shall be in force from its passage.