The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-12

there should be change In the grade
! of such street. alley or public place
may ratify or confirm such proposed
grades. or they may make such changes
therein az they may deem necessary
and then confirm the same, or they may
reject the recomm endation 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
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 shall be appointed and
qualify. lie shall receive such com
pensation as the council may 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 be
the 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
nish written opinions upon any sub
tects involving questions of law sub
mitted to him by them. He shall APP
pear as counsel for the said corpora
t. ~,
Interested, depending in any court of
the city of Richmond; and when the
constitutionality 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 A1all 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.
32 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
pOrati0n, and conduct and defend suits
and proceedings in all courts and
places.
80. The city attorney shall keep his
office 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 DO briefly en-
al ct % "a ira
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 n COM
petent person to act as his assistant
and also secretary and assistant see
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 or the law department.
Department of Finance.
81. There shall he elected as here
inbefore provided a suitable person to
be known as the city ptroller,"
who shall be the head of the depart
ment of finance. lie shall keep his of
fee in the city hall, or such other
place as may he designated by the
Al(N tbuHtti. pom his tiuHll1CatlOns
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-
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
/
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 ofreVenue.
so far as it can he ascertaincd. 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 n 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 collie. tion
and return of such revenues into the
| city treasury; ana prescribe such SNS-
item and regulations necessary for the
better reporting and accounting for all
! city revenue and receipts. He shall
! have the custody and charge of all
4 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
ltody of the city clerk. and such other
/ papers as may be committed to his
care by the city council. by or iinance
| or otherwise.
/ SO. The said comptroller shall have
! the power TO examine and audit all
accounts, claims and demands for or
gainst the city, and no money shall
! he drawn from tho 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
I the true state of any balance or bal
ances so due. ne shall have and &c
/ hereby clothed with fun power and
authority TO administer an oath or
oaths to the claimant or ella 'mants, or
any other person or persons. whom he
may think proper to examine as to
I any fact, matter or thing concerning
the correctness OF any account, claim
or demand presented; and tho per
son so sworn shall, If he swears false
| ~, be guilty or wilful and corrupt per-
jury and be subject to punishment by
! confinement In the neDitpntfa-v for