The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-11
AN ACT
(H A6A

| Secretary or state. AN ACT
 No 47, GIL 454 To authorize cities and towns in the State of Alabama to cause elections to be held therein to authorize the issue of bonds for purchasing or con- structing public buildings. sewers streets, alleys, bridges and public school houses and buildings, to pur- chase water works and light plants or to construct the same, and for such other purposes as may be authorized by law; to provide for the manner of giving notice of such election, the manner of holding the same, and the payment of expenses thereby in- curr ed, and to authorize the issue of bonds when at such election the voters ~thereat shall decide in favor of such bond issue. Be 1t enacted by the Leg
 islature of Alabama as follows:
 Section 1. The mayor and common
 council, mayor and aldermen, or other
 governing body of any city or town in
 the State of Alabama is hereby author
 ized to order elections to be held in such city or town fQr the purpose of the quah- fled electors of such municipality voting
 upon and deciding the question as to
 whether or not the bonds of such munich pality shall be issued for the purpose of purchasing or constructing public build ings. sewers, streets, alleys, bridges and public school houses and buildings, to purchase water works and light plants, or to construct the same or for such other purposes as are authorized by law when ever such governing board deems 1t neces- sary; but no second election under this Act shall be held within two years of an election heretofore held for the same purpose unless it be to authorize the is- sue of bonds to rebuild public buildings or other public utilities or bridges, de- stroyed since the issue of the order of such first election.
 Sec. ?. Notice of such election shall be given for thirty 3N days by publication in newspaper published in the munich
 pality in which such election is to be held once a week for three successive weeks,
 which notice shall state the purpose for which the election is to be held, and the time and place for holding the same, the amount of the proposed bond issue. the rate of interest the bonds are to bear. the time for which they are to run, and the purpose for which the bonds are to be
 Issued and such notice shall be signed by the mayor or other chief executive off, cer of such municipality in which such cleo ton is to be held. end if no ncws- paper is published therein, such notice must be posted in five (5) public places in said municipality at least thirty C3O days before the time of holding said election.
 Sec. 3. The ballot used at such election must be prepared by the mayor or other chief executive officer. and shall contain the words ''For-bond issue" and "Against-bond issue" Uhe character of tho bonds to be shown in the blank space) and the voter shall indicate his choice by placing a cross mark before or after the one or the other.
 Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the may or and aldermen or other governing body of such municipality in which an election under this act is to be held. to appoint three managers and one returning off, cer for each voting precinct in such rnu- nicipality to conduct said election, and in appointing such managers. as far as practicable. at least one manager at each voting precinct shall be for bond issue and one against bond issue. It shall be the duty of the chief executive officer of such municipality to notify the mana gers and returning officers of their ap- pointments. and to deliver the boxes and ballots to the managers at the several voting precincts in the municipality.
 Sec. 5. All expenses for holding such election shall be paid out of the Treas ury of the municipality in which the same Is held and the managers, clerks and returning officers shall be entitled to the same compensation as managers, clerks and returning officers at other mu- nIcipal elections.
 Sec. G. The Mayor and Aldermen, or other governing board of the municipality. In which an election is held under this Act, shall constitute a board to canvass the returns and declare the result of such election. and it shall be it's duty to meet at the usual place of meeting within three days after the date of holding such cleo ton and canvass the returns and declare the result thereof.
 Sec. | Any election held under the provisions of this Act can be contested under the provisions of the Code of Ala bama regulating the contests of elections of Justices of the Peace. but no contest of an election can be instituted after the expiration of ten days from the date of the canvass of the returns of said cleo ton.
 Sec 8. The record of the result of the election held hereunder as returned by the minutes of the board of canvassers shall be recorded in the proceedings of such municipality in which the same is held, and when so recorded the record shall be conCIuSlNe evidence or the mat ters therein stated. and of the validity of such election. unless contested as pro- vided in the preceding section.
 Sec g. If at an election held under and according to the provisions of this Act majority of the qualified electors. voting at such election of the municipality in which the election is held. vote flor bond issue" the Mayor and Aldermen or other governing body of the municipality in which such election is held is hereby au- thorized to issue the bonds of such mu- nicipaIity in the amount and for the pur- poses mentioned fin the notice of said cleo ton.
 Sec 10 No city. town or other munich paiity corporation having a population of less than six thousand. except as here after provided. shall become indebted in an amount, including present indebted ness, exceeding five per centum of the as- sessed value of the property therein. ex- cept for the construction or purchase of water works, gas or electric lighting plants. or sewerage or for the improve ment of streets, for which purposes an additional indebtedness not exceeding 3 per centum may be created; provided. .his