Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-30
REFORM FOR MONTGOMERY AVigorouS Crusade Against Of
 lenders Being Made. REV. GEO. B. EAGER'S CARD In Which He Charges Corruption in the City
 Government.
 SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE QUOTED Ministers Union at Work Peabody Fund for Alabama Exhausted < Ex-Gov-
 ernor Jones' Latest-Move-
 ments of Noted People.
REV. GEO. B. EAGER'S CARD
SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE QUOTED
Age-Herald Bureau.
 Exchange Hotel,
Montgomery, June 29.

Exchange Hotel,
 Montgomery, June 29.
 New York, Baltimore and all of the larger cities have had their era of mu- nicipal reform and now it seems that Montgomery is to have hers. on the latest improved Parkhurst pattern. For many months the ministers and Christian peo- pie of this city have realized that radical reform along certain lines was neces- sary and -rumors of concerted action on their part to gain it have been afloat a long while.
 The first gun in the campaign against vice was fired when at a recent meeting of the city council the Ministers union presented petition asking that the mu- nieipal laws against prostitution, gam bling and Sunday liquor selling be en- forced to the letter. Since that time the ministers have been sharply on the look out and for several Sundays past 1t has, for the first time in the history of the town, been well nigh impossible to pur- chase whisky In the majority or ln- stances the screen doors Of the saloons were found to be propped open and the lights burning, so that from the street the entire interior could be seen
 Dr. George B. Eager. pastor of the First Baptist church and president of the
  for his wonderful intellectual and cXccu- five ability deep piety and conservatism, has issued the following, which has ere ated genuine sensation in the city, charging as it does, that the whole ma cfinery of the municipal government Is clogged and hampered in achieving the best results in the administration or the law by sordid and political influences:
 In connection with the quiet Dut elect i've work now making for the more viz a1lfn O and the moral betterment or our clty generally, some matters come to ngnt which merit the serious attention or all good citizens
 The laws now existing. as the commit tee on police showed in the report adoDt- ed at the last session of the. council, cover all the cases under consideration, and only need to be enforced to meet all demands.
 The enforcement of some of the laws which have been a dead letter for some time past seems to have been undertaken in dead earnest, and the mayor, council and chief of police seem disposed to se- cure full and impartial enforcement of the laws against all offenders. But the actual enforcement of the laws attei all, depends not simply upon the good inten- ton and well exercised authority or these officials, but upon the fitness, faithful ness and efficiency of the police force.
 Now, is it not a scandal and shame that the whole machinery of our munich
 
 hampered in achieving the best results in the administration of the law by sor- did and political influences and consid erations?
 The chief of police is charged with hay ing refused to reappoint some of the Worthest men on the old force, and tu have appointed instead some of the m worthiest known to the town; and the council. after long debate. confirms the newly appointed force in d batch How sh.;H llPb hp ex here at least is what one who is in q po- sition to know gives as an explanation in part. When the chief of police Mas making an honest effort to secure force that he could depend upon trif1ing, worthless, inefficient fellow came up with q petition signed by nearly ev- cry respectable aspirant after political honors in the city and by scores of good citizens besides.
 What shall we think of the motives prompting such action? And what can we expect of wholesome municipal re- form under conditions making such care less or conscienceess behavior possible? Citizens of Montgomery. is it not time for us to expect better things and to attempt better things as community?
 Certainly the record of our late past brought afresh to mind by the report of our last grand jury, and the aroused moral sense of this community, and the spirit of reform that is in the very air of our times demand it of us.
 GEORGE B. EAGER.
 The Ministers union of Montgomery call special attention to the ordinances of the city, which, as the committee on po- lice reported are ample to meet all the demands of the case against gambling, houses of prostitution and the Sunday opening of saloons. The sections in the city code covering these cases are as fol- lows:
 Sec. 5SS Any person who keeps bawdy house or house for prostitution or house I fo, iona ct on conviction. be fined not less than S1, nor more than $100.
 Sec 5S9 Any person who permits auy house owned by him or under his control to be kept or used as a bawdy house or for the purpose of prostitution, must. on conviction. be fined not less than $1 nor more than Sl00.
 Sec 599 If any man and woman live together in adultery or fornication, each of them must. on conviction. be fined not less than $1 nor more than $lO0.
 Sec 600. Any person who keeps gam bling saloon or house for gambling. or who keeps or has in his possession any table cloth, box, or other device used for the purpose of gaming, must, on con viction be fined not less than s1, nor more than $100.
 Sec 6O1. Any person who plays at any game of chance or hazard for money or other valuable things. or who in any way aids, abets, countenances or encourages such games. must, on conviction, be fined not less than s1, nor more than s101.
 Sec. 6o2. Any person who, being the owner or lessee, and having the custody and control of any tavern, inn, or other public house, or house where liquors are sold or given away. or any out-house where people resort, permits or suffers the playing of any games of chance or hazard for money or other valuable things, must, on conviction, be fined not less than $1, nor more than $100.
 Sec. 603( Any person who fights or causes to Joe fought any chicken. dog. or