The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-09

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upon the board. IL they determine tina
/ there should be a change in the grad,
! OF such street, alley or public place
may ratify or confirm such propose,
grades. or they may make such change,
therein as they may deem necessar,
and then confirm the same. or they ma,
reject tho recommendation of the di
rector OF public works And said hoart
I Is hereby expressly authorized to ex
erctse the powers and duties imposed
I upon the council of the city of Rich.
mond under the act of the general as.
scmbly in force June fourteenth, nine.
teen hundred and twelve, concernins
local assessments in cities and towns
and under any amendments of saic
act that may be hereafter made.
81. The city council shall appoint q
suitable and proper person. who shal
he the attorney and counsel for the
corporation, who shall be the head oil
the legal department. and who shat
hold his office for the term OF two
years, unless sooner removed. and until
his successor shall be appointed and
qualify. He shall receive such com
pensation as the council NAV deter
mine, to he paid by the city. Said at
torney shall have the management
charge and control OF all the law bus
mess of the corporation and the de-
partments thereof, and Of all the law
business in which the city shall be In
terested; shall draw all leases, deeds
and legal papers for the same; and he
the legal adviser Of the mayor, ad-
visory board. city council. or any com
mtttee thereof and of the heads OF
the department OF the city govern
ment; and when required, shall fur
nish written opinions upon any sub
jects involving questions of law sub
mitted TO him by them. He shall APP
pear as counsel for the said corpora
tton In any civil case in which Il is
interested. depending In any court of
the city OF Richmond: and when the
cunstitutionality or validity of any
ordinance is brought in issue in any
penal prosecution. or when the mayor
shall direct prosecution for nuisance,
lie shall appear for the prosecution
when the case shall come into court.
and. with the approval Of the mayor,
shall institute and prosecute ali legal
proceedings deemed by him necessary
or proper to protect the interest OF the
city. He shall have such other powers
and perform such other duties as are
or may be required of him for the city
by any ordinance or resolution of the
city council,
80. He shall have power and au-
thority, from time to time during his
continuance in office. with the consent
OF the mayor, to authorize an attorney
or other person to appear for him in
his name and on behalf of said cor
poration, and conduct and defend suits
and proceedings in all courts and
places.
80. The city attorney shall keep hts
ONCE in such place as the city council
may direct, and shall keep therein a
docket of all the cases to which the
city may be party in any court of
record, in which shall be briefly en-
tered all steps taken in such cases
deemed by him material: and said
docket shall at all times be open to
the inspection of the mayor. city
council and the members thereof; and
the city attorney shall appoint a COM
petent person to act as his assistant
and also secretary and assistant sec
rotary and clerk. and, with the con-
sent OF the city council, may employ
an additional assistant or assistants
and such other Office force as he shall
deem necessary for the proper con-
duct Of the law department.
Department of Finance.
"a. There shall be elected as here
inbefore provided suitable person to
be known as the city comptroller"
who shall be the head of the depart
ment of finance. He shall keep his of
fee in the city hall, or such other
place as may be designated by the
city council. Upon his qualification,
as hereinbefore provided, he shall give
bond with sureties to the amount OF
not less than fifty thousand dollars be-
fore entering upon the duties of his
office, or a larger sum may be re-
CURED by the council before or after
he shall have entered upon the duties
OF his Office. The said comptroller
shall have charge and control OF the
keeping of all accounts and financial
records of the city of Richmond
wherein shall be stated. among other
things, the appropriations for the year
for each distinct object and branch
of expenditures. and also the receipts
from each and every source OF revenue
so far as 1t can be ascertained All of
such accounts and financial records
shall be subject to the examination of
the mayor. the members of the city
council, or other person required by
order of the mayor or ordinance of the
council to make such examination
80. The said comptroller shall be
charged with and exercise a general
supervision over all the officers and
employees OF the city connected with
the department OF finance, or charged
in any manner with the assessment,
receipt, collection. or disbursement of
and return of such revenues into the
city treasury; and prescribe such sys-
tenn and regulations necessary for the
better reporting and accounting for all
city revenue and receipts. He shall
have the custody and charge of all
deeds, mortgages. contracts, judg-
ments. notes. bonds, debts and chooses
In action belonging TO the city ex-
cept such as are confined to the Gus
tody of the city clerk. and such other
papers as may be committed to his
care by the city council. by ordinance
or otherwise.
the power to examine and audit all
accounts, claims and demands for or
against the city: and no money shall
be drawn from the treasury or paid by
the city to any person, except as here
in otherwise provided, unless that bal
ance due and payable be first settled
and adjusted by the said comptroller:
and for the purpose of ascertaining
the true state of any balance or ball
ances so due, he shall have and is
hereby clothed with full power and
authority to administer an oath or
oaths 10 the claimant or ella .mants. or
any other person or persons. whom he
may think proper to examine as to
any fact, matter or thing concerning
the correctness of any account. claim
or demand presented: and the per-
son so sworn shall. If he swears false
ly, be guilty or wilful and corrupt per-
jury, ana be subject to punishment by