The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-27
THE POLICE
COMMISSION
Senator Cunningham Introduces a Bill
Of His Own.
MEMBERS AND THE SENATOR
Are Opposed on a Birmingham Matter
Of Greatest Importance.
MR.. CUNNINGHAM EXPLAINS
Full Text of His Bill, and His Reasons
for His Present Action-There
Seems to be Trouble
Ahead.
MEMBERS AND THE SENATOR
MR.. CUNNINGHAM EXPLAINS

81 believe that my Birmingham police
commission bill, which passed the house
unanimously, will pass the senate and be-
come a law said Representative Huey
last night.
Representative Huey was reminded that
Senator Cunningham had just introduced a
police commission bill in the senate.
Yes, / am aware of that. The senator's
bill and mine that passed the house are
now before the senate committee on munich
pal and county organization, but l believe
my bill will become law
There was a great deal of discussion
about the commission matter yesterday.
Conference In Montgomery
1t Is said that night before last there was
a conference held in Montgomery by the
governor, Senator Cunningham and the six
members of the house from Jefferson county
to consider the matter of local bills. Con-
illusions arrived at, If there were any, have
not been made public; but clearly there
was no agreement the police commits
sion matter for Senator Cunningham yes
terday presented hts own bill in the senate,
and that does not meet with the approval
of Representative Huey, however others
may regard it.
Representative Huey Is for his own bill,
and he declared to an Age-Herald reporter
last night that the bill would become law
Mayor Evans and MIR. Lowe
Mayor Evans declined to be interviewed
on the subject. and Hon. Robert j. Lowe,
to whom much of the credit for passing
the Huey bill through the house is due,
mr. baf ha bad 70
publication. Repeated questions failed to
elicit from Mr.. Lowe any expression of
opinion. He merely observed that he was
not talking just now.
The Coming Election
Meantime the community is confronted
by the fact that on December IL the police
commission will elect a chief to serve for
two years and the other officers of the
force for one year.
Even bets were offered around town yes
terday that Tom Mcdonald would be chief
Aof- police a year hence. There were no
takers.
Senator Cunningham's bill does not re-
ceive the approval of the members of the
house for Jefferson county. Following is
the full text of the BILL
A bill to be entitled an act to further regu-
late the board of police commissioners of
Birmingham, Alabama; to provide for the
election of said commissioners by tine
qualified voters of said city, TO fix their
terms Of Office; to declare causes of
vacancy In said offices, and to provide for
filling same, and to limit the power of
said board to expend money for salaries
of the police force
Section l. Be 1t enacted by the general
assembly of Alabama; That at the next
regular election for mayor and aldermen of
the city of Birmingham, Ala, the five men,
bers of the board of police commissioners
of said city shall also be elected by the
qualified voters of said city, participating
in said election. One of said commissioners
shall be taken from the city at large, two
of them shall be residents of the Northside,
or that part of the city north of the rail-
road reservation, extending east and west
through said city, and two of them shall
be residents of the Southside, or that part
of the city south of said railroad reserva-
ton. The term of the member elected for
the city-at-large shall be for six years from
the election, until his successor is elected
and qualified; the term of one of the North
side commissioners and the term of one of
the Southside commissioners shall be for
four years. or until their successors are
cicCttQ anu Qudiitu, anu the term OIL one
of the Northside commissioners and the
term of one of the Southsde commissioners
shall be for two years, until their sue
cessors are elected and qualified. Said
board of police commissioners shall, as
soon as practicable after said election. de-
termine and decide by lot which of the
Northside and which of the Southside COM
missioners shall hold for two years and
which for four years. In determining who
is elected commissioners at any election
hereafter held under the provisions of this
act account must be taken of the votes
cast throughout said city.
Sec. 2. Be 1t further enacted, That the
terms of the present police commissioners
of said city shall continue until their sue
cessors have been elected at the next regu-
lar election for mayor and aldermen, as
prescribed In the first seton of this act
and have qualified by taking the oath of
Office IS such commissioners.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That at
each biennial election of mayor and alder
men of said city, after the next election
In 1899. there shall be elected by the quail
ned voters the successors of the police COM