The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-11
IMPORTANT BILL
 ID BE INTRODUCED
Judge Walker Has Prepared
 Municipality Measure
BROAD IN ITS PURPOSES
Will Go Before Legislature When It Meets Next Month-A. T. London z Assisted in Preparation
 of the HnI.

One of the most interesting measures that will come before the legislature when 1t meets In adjourned session next month is bill which has been prepared by Judge R. W. Walker, member from Madison county, assisted by A. T. London of Jefferson. It is a general measure providing for the incorporation of munic- qualities in the state.
 The bill primarily provides uniform method by which towns and citizens can become incorporated and if it becomes a law 1t will do away with all special leg islation in such matters. It is said to be broad enough and exhaustive enough to cover all cases and 1t Is thought by the friends of the measure that practically all cities of the state will be glad to accept it as a charter and become incorporated according to it's provisions.
 The bill divides established communities of the state Into four kinds. Where the population Is 25. 900 and over 1t is a city of the first class. Where the population Is over 20oo and under 25,Ooo 1t Is city of the second class. If the population is ovr 100 and under 2OOO it is charactrizd as a town. All communities with a popu- latton of less than 100 are declared to be villages.
 If a city of the first class, such as Bir- mingham. wishes to accept the proposed law as It's charter, an application to that effect would be filed with the probate s,.a.x. .i,~...4 h,. eno ,,ota,.a aauipp for an election to. decide the matter. If ma jority of the voters of the city favored it., the city charter would be surrendered and the city become incorporated according to the provisions of the new act.
 Methods of City Extension.
 One of the most important features of the bill is the method of extending city limits Thus if Birmingham wished to an- nex certain suburban towns or cities the initiative would have to be taken by the town or city to be annexed.
 A committee from the city council or each suburb must confer with commit tee from the council of the city to which the annexation is desired to see what ar rangement shall be made about the as- sumption of the suburbs indebtedness by the city.
 An election would be held in the suburb to determine whether the voters or the suburb desired to come In according to the terms submitted. If they decided fav- orably the proposition would be submit ted to the voters of the central city itselr at the next regular election to determine whether it is the wish of the people that such suburb should be annexed according to the terms of the agreement.
 If a favorable decision Is reached all the papers pertaining to the elections are filed with the probate judge, and from the filing of such papers the suburb becomes a part of the central city.
 Advantages Claimed.
 It is claimed that the bill possesses ad- vantages which will make 1t much more popular plan of incorporation than that existing at present by which a spe- cial act is required in each case. Judge Walker as chairman of the municipal committee is having the bill printed and it will be generally distributed through out the state DelOTt tiit itBlSidAhit Aa0NNt'-
 If the bill becomes a law 1t will lend a new aspect to the bill which is being drawn providing for greater Birmingham,
 Another mater of much interest to Jeff ferson county and to the whole state which will come before the legislature is the provision for a state bank examiner. The new constitution provides that there shall be such an officer but the matter has been in the hands of the judiciary committee and has never been acted upon. It is reasonably certain that provision will be made for the appointment of an examiner during the coming session.
 It is thought that the law affecting fences around private property through out the state will also be finally disposed of
 A bill is also being prepared by one of the Jefferson county members affecting justices of the peace courts, although the exact plan for the solution of this ques- tion which has been the subject of com ment for several years has not been de- finitely formulated.