The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-01-23
THE NEW CODE.

]
ers, and now under consideration
By thu legislature; but is able to
present the following references t.
some of its provisions from the
Vicksburg Commercial. Herald:
Cities are defined as places OF
over 90 0 inhabitants, towns ara
places of 200 and over 500, while
all places of $50 to 500 inhabitan,s
are drfiHeJ as villages. No place OF
less than $50 population can be iu-
corporated, and Incorporated towns
of less than 250 population must
surrender their charters. Villages
are to have three aldermen, towns
five, and cities Mite. In the last
maine case two aldermen are to be
elected from each ward, and ons
from the city at-large.
The mayor aud aldermen must
bA able 10 read and write the
Eng ish language intelligently, 10
Calculate interest and must ba
freehOldars, paying taxes on not
less than $500, az shown by the
assessment rolls. The mayor votes
on every question, and has an al.
dltinnai vote ia case Of tie. Tue
elective officials ace the foregoing
and the city marshal. TIE others
must be elected by the board.
They are the city clerk, who musl
be au alderman, the city treasurer,
who may be one, the tax collector
aud street commits tioner. The city
marshal may hold the commission.
ership. A new board Of mayor and
aldermen and city marshal must
be elected in every municipality on
the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in August, and b ennially
thereafter. and will take office on
the first Monday ia September.
1t will be observed that there is
no city assessor, but the want will
not be felt as the county assess
nent will be the basis Of taxation.
The city council may elect u
police justice, whose Jurisdiction
shall DO the same as that OF a
magistrate, in addition TO that Of
the present mayor. This does not,
however, deprive the mayor OF hs
jurisdiction All ordinancrs must
be published it local paper, If
there is sach publication. Voters
must DO able to road and lite
English, aud be freehollers or the
husbands or sons of freehollers.
Ths boundaries of cities may be
extended By city ordinance, sub.
j-ct TO appeal 10 the circuit court
by persons who may CONCEIVE
themselves aggrieved by such ac-
ton.
Taxation is provided for 40 FL
lows: Tue city council may levy
not excee' ling six mills for general
revenue, six mills for general I'm
pr0vemehts and special aEse-s.
ments for specified improvements
1t N ~ also levy taxe, 70 pay the
interest and principal, or either, Of
bonds.
No city is allowed to graAt any
exclusive franchise to railroads Of
amy kind, nor any other franchiie
for more than twenty-five years.
Eich city town or will ,ge is con
siituted 4 s.plrate I'D district,
and every male between the ages
of u aud 55 years must work six
days on the streets or pay tax Of
33.
Bonds may ba issued for making
public improvements with timlti-
lions as to the inrereat raid an
with the provision that the in-
lBcurred shall not ex.
ceed seven PER cent of the assessed
valuation, previously existing in
dedtedness being included. Mani
however, are not pre-
sfuded from bonding their existing
indebtedness.
The foregoing by no means ex-
hausis the surjsct, bat comprises |
the principal novelties of the code
as applied to municipalities.
The provisions Of the cole ap.
plying specially TO retail liquor
dealers are also quite intere sting.
They provide for a license tax ~
$1,000 in cities, $1,000 In towns
and 800 in Villages or the cOun.
try. Bond must he given and the
tax paid before the license, which
is nDn-trsn~ferable, is issued. The
proprietor Of any building whore
liquor is sold is criminally respon-
sible for the failure of his tenant TO
take ont license. Playing cards or
other games in saloon is for
bl,iden und,sr penalty Of $500 fine. |
No scr-eus or other methuds Of se-
curing privacy t1 patrons of
saloons are allowable. Finally, in
al sswet" counties, tor no dry"
counties are interf-re with in auy
respect. except by sections pro-
viding penalties for selling liquor
ia them; all petitions for retail
liquor licenses must be signed by
majority of the legal voters and
published IN some local paper. The