The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-11

new code are very elaborate, and if ever enforced should protect the city against contagious diseases.
 The chapter on vital statistics is of special interest to physicians and mid wives. They are required to furnish the health officer with name of parents, their nativity and sex of every child born in Ensley. Statistics of births had not been kept before in this city.
 The new ordinances referring to the liquor traffic are rather severe. Saloons must close at 12 o'clock midnight Satur- day and remain closed until o'clock Monday morning. On week days they must close at 12 midnight and remain closed until o'clock the next morning. While so closed all screens and obstruc- tions must be removed SO as to give a full view of the barroom from the outside While so closed no person shall enter a saloon except the proprietor or his clerk. Women and music are banished from sa- looms at all times.
 Laws on Gambling.
 Stringent laws have been enacted against gambling. One provides that upon complaint under oath to the mayor. al- leging that gambling is being carried on In any building or room. the mayor shall issue his warrant to the chief of po- lice, commanding him to make a raid on such place and to break open all outer and inner doors if admittance is refused to confiscate all gambling implements and to arrest all persons found in such build ing or place.
 It has been claimed that heretofors the system of bookkeeping in tue sev- eral departments of the city government has been deficient The new code provides for system of receipts and stub books for all officers of the city. which requires all officers receiving money to receipt for 1t and to make report every day to the city treasurer. All receipt stubs are to carry the date. name and amounts of each transaction All receipt books are to he open to the inspection of the proper authorities at all times.
 Under the charter the city of Ensley the assessments for city purposes must be bnsed on the assessment for state and county purposes tor the previous year. 1t is claimed that much property in Ensley Is under-valued and that some has es- capped taxation entirely. It Is provided that in the new code that the city coun- ell shall elect each year two tax commits sioners whose duty it shall be to examine the tax assessors records of the city and If any item of property is assessed too low or has escaped taxation they must make written report thereof to the back tax commissioner of Jefferson county and also to the city council. It is esti- mated that the execution of this law will | increase the revenues of the city of Ems ley from 5000 to $7000 Part of the duties of the tax commissioners shall be to ex- anime the books and records of the county tax assessor and compare the assessments there with the assessments made to the tax collector of the city of Ensley.
 The new code contains a complete set of forms for use In the mayors court and In the enforcement of tax liens.
 In an appendix are found authorities which give a synopsis of every decision rendered by the supreme court of Ala bama on matters relating to municipal law. This new code of Ensley is the first in this state to attempt the publl- cation of municipal digest of decisions in the courts
 MT. Deedmeyer has been at work for some months on the code and its com peteness in every detail is g credit to his research and legal ability Those who have examined the work pronounce it to be one of the most complete of the kind ever published by any municipal corporation in the state.
 Miss Mary Settle did the stenographic work on the code and is being eongratu- lated upon her efficiency.