The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-15

electors snail approve sucn grant, or contract, the same shall not be made or granted.
 Referred to Committee on Municipal Corporations.
 The Secretary read the Article on Mu-
 nicipal Corporations as follows:
 MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
 Section l. No person, firm, associa-
 tion or corporation shall be authorized
 or permitted to use the streets, avenues
 or alleys and public places of any city.
 town or village, for the construction or
 operation of any public utility or pri-
 vate enterprise, without the consent of
 the proper authorities of such city.
 town or village. being first had and
 obtained.
 Sec. 2. The General Assembly shall
 not enact any law which will permit
 person firm, corporation or associa-
 tion of any character to pay privilege
 license or other tax to the State of Ala
 bama. and relieve him or it from the
 payment of all other privilege and h-
 cense taxes in the State.
 Sec. 3. No county, city, town, vil-
 lage, district or other political subdi-
 vision of county shall have authority,
 or be authorized by the General As
 sembly after the ratification of this
 Constitution to issue bonds, unless such
 issue of bonds shall have first been
 approved by majority vote by ballot of
 the qualified electors of such county, city, town. village, district or other
 political subdivision of a county, voting
 upon such proposition. In determining
 the result of any election held for
 this purpose. no vote shall be counted as an affirmative vote. which does not snow on it's face that such vote was cast Tn approval of such issue of bonds. Inls Section shall not apply to the renewal, refunding or reissue of bonds lawfully issued. nor prevent the issu-
 ance or bonds in cases where the same nave been authorized by laws enacted prior to the ratification of this Consti- tuition, nor shall this Section apply to obligations incurred or bonds to he is- sued to procure means to pay for street and sidewalk improvements, or sani- tary or storm water sewers, the cost or which :s to be assessed in whole or Tn part against the property abutting sdlo improvements, or drained by such sanitary or storm water sewers. No ety. town or other municipality shall make any assessments for the cost of sidewalk or street paving, or for the cost or the construction of any sewers against property abutting on such street or sidewalk so paved or drained oy such sewers in excess of the in creased value of such property bv reason of the special benefits derived ]rom such improvements.
 Sec. 4. No city. town or village wbosa present indebtedness exceeds inc ,irnil tations imposed by this Constitution snail be allowed to become indehtej III any further amount except as oth- erWise provided in this Constitution untll such indebtedness shall be re- uuced within such limit. provided however. that nothing herein contained snail prevent any municipality from issuing bonds in renewal or for the re- lunolns or obligations already existing or rom issuing honds already author lzed ny law. Provided the provision. or this section shall not apply to the cities of Sheffield and Tuscumbia.
 Sec. b. No city, town, village or other municipal corporation other than provided for in this Article shall lew or collect higher rate of taxation in any one year on the property situated therein than one-half of one per cen tum of the value of such property as assessed for State taxation during the preceding year, provided that for the purpose of paying debts existing on the eth day of December. 1875. and the interest thereon a tax of one per cen- tum may be levied and collected to be applied exclusively to the payment of such indebtedness. and, provided. fur ther. that this section shall not apply to the city of Mobile. which city may from and after the ratification of this Constitution. levy a tax not to exceed the rate of three-fourths of one per centum. to pay the expenses of the city government. and may also levy a tax not to exceed e-fourths of one per centum to pay the debt existing on the 9th day of December, 1875, with the interest thereon. or any renewal of such debt. and provided, further. that this section shall not apply to the cit les of Birmingham and Huntsville, which cities may levy and collect a tax not to exceed one-half of one per centum in addition to the tax of one half of one per centum as hereinabovc allowed to be levied and collected, such special tax to be applied exclusively to the payment of interest on the bonds of said cities of Birmingham and as heretofore issued in pur- suance of law. or now authorized by law to be issued, and for a sinking fund to pay off said bonds at the ma turity thereof, and provided, further, that this section shall not apply to the cities of Troy. Attaila, Gadsden, Bes- semer. Woodlawn, Brewton, Pratt City, Ensley and Vivian and Avon dale which cities may, from and after the ratification of this Constitu- tion. levy and collect an additional tax not exceeding one-half of one per cen- tum per annum, and provided, further, that this section shall not apply to the cities of Decatur New Decatur and Cullman, which cities may from and after the ratification of this Constitu- ton levy and collect an additional tax not exceeding three-tenths of one per centum. Such special tax to be ap- piled exclusively to paying the cur cent expenses of the public schools, to public improvements and to the pay nent of the current expenses of their city governments, but this additional tax shall not be levied unless author Zed by majority vote of the qualified electors voting at a special election held for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not said tax shall be levied, and provided, further, that the pur- pose for which such special tax Is sought to be levied shall be stated in such election call' and if authorized, the revenue derived from such tax shall be lsed for no other purpose than that stated. and provided. further, that the additional tax authorized to be levied oy the city of Troy, shall. when so evied and collected. be used exclusive y in payments of bonds and interest thereon hereafter issued in the adjustment of the present bonded in- lebtedness of said city, and provided, H..r1 1rla, II