The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-11

3lapon the board. IL they determine that
there should be a change In the grade
Iof such street, alley or public place.
may ratify 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
4 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
sembly in force June fourteenth. nine
teen hundred and twelve. concerning
| local assessments in cities and towns.
and under any amendments of said
act that may be hereafter made.
| 81. 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 shah be appointed and
qualify. He shall receive such COM
pensation as the council may deter
mine. to be pr IS 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-
partm thereof. and of ell the law
business In which the city shall be in
terested; shall draw all leases. deeds
and legal papers for the same: and be
tho legal adviser of the mayor, ad-
visory board. city council, or any COM
mittee thereof. and of tho heads of
the department of the city govern
ment: and when required, shall fur
ldsh written opinions upon any sub
1ects involving questions OF law sub
mitted to him by them. He shall ap-
pear IS counsel for the said corpora
tion In any civil case in which IT is
interested. depending In any court OF
the city of Richmond and when the
constituttonality or validity OF any
ordinance is brought in issue in any
penal prosecution. or when the mayor
shall direct 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.
80. He shall have power and au-
ihortty, from time to time during his
continuance in office. with the consent
of the mayor to authorize an attorney
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 HIS
office in such place az the city council
may direct and shall keep therein a
docket OF all the cases to which the
city may be a party in any court OF
record. in which shall be briefly en-
Grp1 all a in
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 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
deem necessary for the proper con
duct of the law department.
Department OF Finance
81. 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, lie shall keep his Of
flee in the city HAN, 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 he 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 he 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
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 COLLIE don
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, tudg-
merts, notes, bonds, debts and chooses
in action belonging to the city, ex-
cent 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.
SO. The said comptroller shall have
the power to examine and audit all
accounts, claims and demands for or
a gainst 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 ascertalning
the true state of any balance or bal
ances so due, he shall have and 10
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, and be subject TO punishment by