CHAP. 51.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 11 of an act approved
March 12, 1912, and entitled an act to provide for designation by cities
and towns of segregation districts for residence of white and colored
persons; for the adoption of this act by such cities and towns, and
for penalties for the violation of its terms; and to ratify and confirm
certain ordinances relating to the segregation of races heretofore
passed by certain cities and towns of this Commonwealth.

(S. B. 91.)
Approved February 17, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section eleven of an act approved March twelfth, nineteen hun-
dred and twelve, and entitled an act to provide for designation
by cities and towns of segregation districts for residence of
white and colored persons; for the adoption of this act by such
cities and towns, and for penalties for the violation of its terms,
be and the same is hereby amended and re-enacted to read as
follows:
sec. 11. This act shall apply only to the cities or towns
which by a recorded vote of a majority of the members elected
to the council thereof, or if there be two branches of such
council by a recorded vote of a majority of the members elected
to each branch thereof, shall adopt the provisions of this act,
and in all respects comply with the requirements hereof; pro-
vided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be taken
or construed to take away from any city or town, not adopting
this act, any power or authority the said city or town may have,
by reason of the provisions of their respective charters, or of
general law, to pass ordinances regulating the segregation of
the residences of white and colored persons, and all such ordi-
nances heretofore passed by cities and towns, not adopting this
act, are hereby ratified and confirmed, to the same extent as if
the said cities and towns had been specially thereunto author-
ized.

An emergency existing because of the rapid growth in the
population of several cities and towns of the Commonwealth,
this act shall take effect from its passage.