Chap. 289.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 13 and 7] of an act en-
titled an act to provide a charter and special form of government for the
city of Norfolk and to repeal the existing charter of said city, approved
March 14, 1906, and the several acts amendatory thereof, approved, re-
spectively, March 12, 1908, March 14, 1908, March 7, 1912, March 13, 1912,
March 13, 1914, March 17, 1914, March 24, 1914, March 25, 1914. March 25,
1914, February 5, 1915, March 4, 1916, March 11, 1916, March 16, 1916, March
17, 1916, March 20, 1916, March 20, 1916, and March 20, 1916, and all other
acts and parts of acts mconsistent with this act so far as they rclate to the
said city of Norfolk, approved February 7, 1918, as amended by an act
entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 2 of an act entitled an act to
provide a charter and special form of government for the city of Norfolk
and to repeal the existing charter of said city, approved March 14, 1906,
and the several acts amendatory thereof, approved, respectively, March 12,
1908, March 14, 1908, March 7, 1912, March 13, 1912, March 13, 1914, March
17, 1914, March 24, 1914, March 25, 1914, March 25, 1914, February 5, 1915,
March 4, 1916, March 11, 1916, March 16, 1916, March 17, 1916, March 20,
1916, March 20, 1916, and March 20, 1916, and all other acts and parts of
acts inconsistent with this act so far as they relate to the said city of
Norfolk, approved February 7, 1918, approved September 9, 1919. [S B 271]

Approved March 24, 1926.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tions thirteen and seventy-one of an act entitled an act to provide a
charter and special form of government for the city of Norfolk and to
repeal the existing charter of said city, approved March fourteenth,
nineteen hundred and six, and the several acts amendatory thereof,
approved respectively March twelfth, nineteen hundred and eight,
March fourteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, March seventh, nine-
teen hundred and twelve, March thirteenth, nineteen hundred and
twelve, March thirteenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen, March
seventeenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen, March twenty-fourth,
nineteen hundred and fourteen, March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred
and fourteen, March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and fourteen,
February fifth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, March fourth, nineteen
hundred and sixteen, March eleventh, nineteen hundred and sixteen,
March sixteenth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, March seventeenth,
nineteen hundred and sixteen, March twentieth, nineteen hundred
and sixteen, March twentieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and
March twentieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and all other acts
and parts of acts inconsistent with this act so far as they relate to the
said city of Norfolk, approved February seventh, nineteen hundred
and eighteen, as amended by an act entitled an act to amend and
re-enact section two of an act entitled an act to provide a charter and
special form of government for the city of Norfolk and to repeal the
existing charter of said city, approved March fourteenth, nineteen
hundred and six, and the several acts amendatory thereof; approved
respectively, March twelfth, nineteen hundred and eight, March
fourteenth, nineteen hundred and eight, March seventh, nineteen
hundred and twelve, March thirteenth, nineteen hundred and twelve,
March thirteenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen, March seventeenth,
nineteen hundred and fourteen, March twenty-fourth, nineteen hun-
dred and fourteen, March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and four-
teen, March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and fourteen, February
fifth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, March fourth, nineteen hundred
and sixteen, March eleventh, nineteen hundred and sixteen,.-March
sixteenth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, March seventeenth, nineteen
hundred and sixteen, March twentieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen,
March twentieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and March twen-
tieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and all other acts and parts of
acts inconsistent with this act so far as they relate to the said city of
Norfolk, approved February seventh, nineteen hundred and eighteen,
approved September nineteenth, nineteen hundred and nineteen, be
and the same are hereby amended and re-enacted so as to read as
follows:

Section 13. Penalty for absence.—For each absence of a council-
man from a regular meeting of the council, except where such absence
is occasioned or required by city business, sickness, or other unavoid-
able cause, in which case the absence of such councilman may be
excused by a four-fifths vote of the council, there shall be deducted
from his pay a sum equal to two per centum of his annual salary.
Absence from five consecutive regular meetings shall operate to vacate
the seat of a member, unless the absence is excused by a council
resolution setting forth the reason thereof, and entered upon the
journal.

Section 71. Payment of claims.—Payments by the city shall be
made only upon vouchers certified by the head of the appropriate
department or other division of the city government, and by means
of warrants on the city treasurer, issued by the director of finance and
countersigned by the city treasurer. During such time as the city
manager shall act as director of finance.such warrants shall be issued
by the city auditor and countersigned by the city treasurer. The
director of finance, or, if the city manager be acting as director of
finance, then the city auditor shall examine all payrolls, bills and other
claims and demands against the city; and shall issue no warrant for
payment unless he finds that the claim is in proper form, correctly
computed and duly certified; that it is justly and legally due and
payable; that an appropriation has been made therefor which has not
been exhausted, or that the payment has been otherwise legally
authorized; and that there is money in the city treasury to make
payment. The city manager, or the city auditor, as the case may be,
may require any claimant to make oath to the validity of a claim;
may investigate any claim, and for such purposes may examine any
witnesses under oath; and if such claim be found fraudulent, erron-
eous or otherwise invalid, shall not issue a warrant therefor.