The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-31
MAYORS WANT NEW LAWS Called Meeting of the
 Municipal League. LEGISLATORS PRESENT President Joseph Named a
 Committee to Act. Chairman Weakley Will Assemble Committee in Birmingham on
 February 12-city Officials p Criticise Express
 Companies.

A Committee on Legislation was ap- pointed at a called meeting of the Ala bama League of Municipalities, held yes terday in the City Council chamber of Montgomery, to recommend general laws affecting the municipalities, to the Legis- lative Committees on Municipalities of the two houses of the Legislature. The committee will meet in Birmingham on February 12th, in the office of Hon J. B. Weakiey, who Is chairman of the committee.
 The meeting was called to order yester. day at noon by Mayor E. B. Joseph oi Montgomery, President of the League but immediately adjourned until 3:3t o'clock. In order that members of the Committee on Municipalities from the Senate and House might confer with the League.
 At 3:30 o'clock the members of the League again assembled. Senator W. B. Craig and W. B. Castleberry. and Rep resentatives R. W. Walker, Alex Lon don and F. s. Starr of the Committees on Municipalities of the Legislature, were present.
 Mayor Joseph extended to these gentle men the privileges of the floor and invit- ed them to address the members of the League. All of the legislators responded
 
 and not to direct, but urged on the League the necessity of its cooperation with the committees.
 J. E. Blackwood, Mayor of Gadsden, moved that committee of seven be rais- ed. of which Hon. J. B. Weakley of Birmingham should be chairman and Mayor E. B. Joseph member. to sug- gest such general municipal legislation as may be desirable to the cities of the State. not in conflict with the present city charters.
 The President was given authority to increase the membership of this commit tee to nine should 1t prove expedient.
 On this committee Mayor Joseph ap- pointed J. E. Blackwood of Gadsden, w. G. Cochrane of Tuscaloosa, T. T. Huey of Bessemer. J. l.. Acree of Do- than and O. G. Simpson of Tuscumbia
 It was decided that the municipalities of the State be called on to contribute funds to~reimburse the membership of the committee in their efforts to aid the towns and cities. It was decided to pro- rate the assessment according to the size of the cities.
 A resolution was adopted cautioning the Legislature not to enact any law fixing or limiting the license tax which muni- cipal corporations receive from express companies doing business in such muni- cipalities.
 The resolution was aimed at the South ern Express Company. which a member stated invariably Hobbies bill through the Legislature fixing their licenses.
 The League adjourned sine di. and most of the members left Montgomery on night trains.
 Those who were present were: T. L. Rose, Mayor of Georgiana: J. l.. Acree Mayor of Dothan; T. T. Huey. Mayor of Bessemer; Rudolph Weggelin and J. M Meacham, Aldermen of Bessemer; Charles s. Henderson. Mayor of Troy: W. c. Cochrane, Mayor of Tuscaloosa; John B. Weakley of Birmingham. ex-Mayor of Florence; O. c. Simpson Mayor of Tus- cumbia; J. H. Nathan, City Attorney of Sheffield; R. G. Thurman. Mayor of shef- field. and J. E. Blackwood, Mayor of C;adsden,