The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-08

plane showing the same. and there
upon the board. II they determine that
there should be a change In the grade
of such street. alley or ~ruoffc place,
may ratifv or confirm such proposed
grades, or they may make such changes
therein as they may deem necessary
and then confirm the same, or they may
reject the recommendation Of the di-
rector Of public works. And said board
is hereby expressly authorized to ex-
ercise the powers and duties imposed
upon the council OF the city OF Rich
mond under the act of the general as
aembly in force June fourteenth. nine
teen hundred and twelve, concerning
loca assessments in cities and towns.
and under any amendments of said
act that may be hereafter made,
~. The city council shall appoint a
suitable and proper person. who shall
be the attorney and counsel for the
corporation, who shall be the head OF
the legal department. and who shall
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 az the council may deter
mine. to be 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
tereatcd. shall draw all leases. deeds
and legal papers for the same: and be
the legal adviser Of the mayor, adj
visory board. city council, or any COM
mittee 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 ap-
pear as counsel for the said corpora =
tion in any civil case in which 1t Is
interested. depending in any court OF
the city Of Richmond: and when the
cunatitutfonalit or validity of any
ordinance is brought In Issue in any
penal prosecution, or when the mayor
shall direct a prosecution for nuisance,
he shall appear for the prosecution
when the case shall come into court.
and, with the approval of the mayor.
shall institute and prosecute all 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
30 He shall have power and au-
thority, from time to time during his
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 nis
office in such place as the city council
may direct. and shall keep therein a
docket of all the cases to which the
rif ma h. in, ~ 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 he 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 a 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 he elected as here
inbefore provided a 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 +
flee in the city hall or such other
place as may be designated by the
city council. Upon his qualification
as heretnbefore provided. he shall give
bond with surettes to the amount of
not less than fifty thousand dollars be
fore entering upon the duties of his
office or larger sum may be re
quired 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 a il can be ascertained All of
such agroWnts and financial records
shall be subject 10 the examination of
he mayor. the members of the city
council. or other person required Ivy
order OF the mayor or ordinance OF ,he
council Ia ma Ike such examination.
80. The said comptroller shall he
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
the city revenues; and the COlieL ton
and return of such revenue 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
ftody of the city clerk, and such other
papers as may be committed to his
care by the city council, by ordinance
or otherwise.
sc. The said comptroller shall have
the power TO examine and audit al
accounts. claims and demands for OF
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 he first settled
and adjusted by the said comptroller
and for the purpose OF ascertaininI
the true state of any balance or bal.
ances so due, he shall have and *
hereby clothed with fun power and
authority TO administer an oath OF
oaths to the claimant or ella mants, or
any other person or persons. whom he
/ may think proper to examine as tC
any fact. matter or thing concernine
the correctness of any account claim
/ or demand presented; and the per.
son so sworn shall, If he swears false.
/ w be guilty. or wilful and cnfrt,rt nov.