The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-04

the Mayor. signed BY qualified
voters OF the city equal in number to
10 per cent of those voting at the
last preceding election. must provide
by ordinance for an election to take
place not less than twenty days nor
more than forty days thereafter, TO
determine Arst, the question, shall the
city OF talio the necessarily
steps to frame and adopt q new char
ter? and. second, To e!ect Il board OF
fifteen frceholders to bs elected at
large By tho system Of proportional
representation through The single
transferable vote" Nominations to the
beard shall be by petition OF qualified
voters equal III number 10 at least 81
PR ceNl Of the vote east At the last
preceding city election. Should a ma
iortty OF the qualified electors voting
. thereon vote in favor OF The proposi-
! lion To frame q new charter. then the
election of tho board of frccholdcrs
snail b. non-partisan election. and
board SO elected shall :J-occed In that
case in open sessions 20 prepare and
propose charter and frame "A gov
eminent for such city. which shall 10
signed in duplicate by the Members
thereof. or majority OF them, and
| returned ono copy thereof to the city
clerk and the other to the Secretary
| Of State.
! The election To determine whether
! ? new charter shall be framed and for
, the selection Of board OF freeholders
sha!i be a non pa rtisau election, and
I nothing on the ballots snail Indicate
me party utilization of tn. candidates
ihe election shall. az far a practicable
| be conducted under the general elec.
! ton laws of the State. and any fraud
! or irreEularity. or attempt thcrcat.
! committed therein. shall be punished
/ as are similar onenses against the
general election laws
! such proposed charter and frame OF
| government shall then be published
| daily in two papers OF general circula-
| ton in such city for at least twenty
days, and within not less than thirty
! days ind not more than sixty days
after such publication. shall lie sub
| mitted TO the qualified voters OF such
city at special or general municipal
! election, and the council of sucn city
! shall provide by ordinance for tho
holding of such special election unless
! Il general municipal election shall! be
| held within the time hercinbetorc pre-
scribed.
! II majority OF the qualified voters
OF the city, voting thereon, shall ratily
| tho same. IT shall become the CHARTER
/ and frame Of government of such city
/ and the organic law thereof. and
! supersede and repeal all laws incOn-
sistcnt herewith and existing charter
and all amendments thereof y copy
J OF such charter and frame of govern
I ment duly certified by the proper
authorities OF such city. setting forth
! its submission to the qualified voters
. of the city and its ratification by them,
shall be made III duplicate. and de-
| posted. one in tae office 0, the Score
! tary of state. and tn, other among the
/ archives OF the city. Ill courts shall
! take judicial notice thereof The
J charter and frame of government so
adopted may be amended at intervals
! of not less than two years by pro-
! posals therefor, which the Council OF
] the city may, and when requested 10y
! "a petition iiled an the office OF the
! City Clerk, or official acting thereas.
/ signed by qualified voters OF said city
! equal in number 10 10 per cent. OF
| those voting at the last preceding city
election, must submit at tn, next city
! election, held ut least sixty days after
! the adoption OF the ordnance, or the
! ding OF such petition in the office of
| the icity clerk or official acting thereas
! Each such proposed amendment, be-
/ fore IL goes into effect, must oe ratified
! by u majority OF the qualified voters
/ voting tncrcou rs herein provided for
! the adoption OF the charter and frame
: u
| such proposal any alternative article
! or proposition may be presented for
! the choice OF the voters. and may be
! voted on separately without prejudice
I TO others.
! should the General Assembly TAIL be
! fore The expiration of It's session next
j following the ratification OF this
I amendment By the people OF the State,
/ tn pass a general law, under watch
| cities may frame. adopt and amend
! their own charters then this amend
ment of the Constitution shalt be self
! enforcing, and tho cities of tho state
may, under the limitations of the Con-
/ stitution, and in accordance with this
amendment, proceed TO Fame their
| own charters by assuming the ohlisa-
| lion TO maintain standard OF et-
| iciency in tho departments OF santa
| lion, education and police not lower
tnan that already existing in tho aeH'
erai cities which may decide to adopt
| a. new form OF charter.