SEC. 3. Vested rights preserved. All rights and property of every kind and description, which were vested in any city under its former organization, shall be deemed and held to be vested in such city upon its becoming re-organized as provided in the preceding section; but no rights or liabilities, either in favor or against such city, existing at the time of so becoming re-organized, and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by such change, but the same shall stand and progress, as if no change had been made. [R. S. 1879, Sec. 4386. SEC. 4. Second city not to be incorporated.— No city, town or village shall be organized within this state under and by virtue of any law thereof, adjacent to or within two miles of the limits of any city of the first, second or third class, or a city having a population sufficient to become a city of the first, second or third class, unless such city, town or village be in a different county from such city. [R. S. 1889, Sec. 981. SEC. 5. May cause census to be taken, when.Any city, town or village within this state, now incorporated under the provisions of this chapter, or under any special or local law, as a village, town or city either of the second, third or fourth classes, as classified in said chapter, and in which the citizens thereof desire incorporation as a village, town or city of a higher class, and believe that since the tak ing of the last census, state or national, there has been sufficient increase in population to entitle it to such desired incorporation, may, by authority of an ordinance, and at the expense of such village, town or city, cause to be taken a census of its population, and should such census, when so taken, show that the village, town or city taking the same, has the requisite population to entitle it to the right to become incorporated as a village, town or city of a higher class, then such village, town or city may proceed to secure such incorporation as its population may then entitle it to, under and by authority of the provisions of this chapter: provided, that cities or towns that have permitted their organization to become dormant or ineffective, through a failure to elect corporate officers, or levy a corporate tax for the two years immediately preceding, may, by a petition of the majority of the tax payers of such city or town, to the county court have an enumeration taken and be assigned to its proper class; and thereupon the county court, shall appoint the proper officers for such city or town, who shall hold their office until the next annual election thereafter and until their successors are elected and qualified. [R. S. 1889, Sec. 982. THE CITY OF ST. JOSEPH INCORPORATED AS A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS. ARTICLE I. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING THAT THE CITY OF SAINT JOSEPH BE INCORPORATED AS A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS. Be it ordained by the City of Saint Joseph: SECTION 1. Incorporating as city of second class.That the city of Saint Joseph be incorporated under the provisions of the general law provided for the government of cities of the second class in article 3, chapter 89, Revised Statutes, [1879], of Missouri. SEC. 2. To be ratified by voters.-That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval, and its ratification and adoption by a majority of the qualified voters of the city voting at an election to be held for that purpose. SEC. 3. Proclamation of election. The mayor shall, within five days after the passage and approval of this |