The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-18
ALABAMA MAYORS
WANT LEGISLATION
Important Conference Is Held
In Birmingham
COMMITTEE Is AUTHORIZED
Will Prepare a Report on Measures
Demanded BY Cities of Second
Class to Be lncorpor-
ated In Bill.
COMMITTEE Is AUTHORIZED

| held a meeting at the city nan yesler-
day afternoon and formed permanent
organization for mutual benefit and for
! the purpose of securing better legislation
affecting the government of municipal
ties.
| A committee was authorized to take up
| the matter of immediate legislation and
report at another meeting to be held
sometime before the assembling of the
| legislature in January. Chairman Charles
| p Smith of Gadsden announced that he
would appoint this committee in a few
days.
The duty of the committee will be to
of the cities of the second class in the
way of legislation and frame a general
bill embodying the needs of the several
municipalities interested in the move
ment
| 1t seemed to be the sense of most of
those present that the general municipal
| code bill, known as the walker bill, ,
which will probably be introduced at the
next session of the legislature, does not
meet the requirements of most of the
/ towns of the state and several amend
ments were suggested and will probably
| be embodied in a general bill to be pre-
pared by the legislative committee.
Want SeIf-Government.
The general sentiment expressed in the
meeting yesterday was in favor of more
freedom in the matter of self government
and more power in levying taxes for local
improvements Under the present law 1t
seems that most of the cities of the Sec
ond class in the state are hampered by
narrow limitations in the matter of levy
ing taxes for public Improvements
The following resolution, introduced by
o. r. Hood of Gadsden during the discus
sion of the walker bill" expresses the
sentiment of the assembly:
1--WE oppose the passage of any law
that would tend to supplant our present
charters, but would favor the passage
of such general laws as would confer on
municipalities such additional powers of
local legislation as they need"
This resolution was unanimously adopt
ed and this action does not imply that
the city officials in the meeting oppose
the passage of the walker municipal
code law. 1t does not carry the idea that
the officials are opposed to some of the
provisions of that law.
Meeting In Detail.
The meeting yesterday was the result
of call issued some time ago to all sec
ond class municipalities in the state for
a conference to discuss needed legislation
Several cities of North Alabama were
represented as follows:
Anniston-Thomas f. Kilby, Mayor; E.
NJ Lewis, r. II. Todd and E. p. Cooper.
Decatur-H. A. Skeggs, Mayor.
Gadsden-Charles p Smith, Mayor; T.
S. Kyle, o. R. Hood, E. II. Cross, L.
l. Hersburg and j. NJ. Sullivan.
Ensley-N. w Scott, Mayor
New Decatur-Samuel Blackwell, May
or and John Patterson.
Florence-A. E. Walker Mayor, and
Emmett O'Neill
observation-disclosures w. Smith, Mayor,
and r. e. Smith
Bessemer-J. j. Sullivan, Mayor.
Sheffield-H. w. Blair, Mayor.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor Charles p. Smith of Gadsden, who
stated that the object of his call for the
conference was to discuss legislative
measures that are needed in the govern
ment of the several municipalities of the
state and to frame a bill carrying such
needed reforms may be suggested for
presentation at the next session of the
legislature
Smith Is Chairman.
Mr.. Smith was made chairman of the
meeting and r. E. Smith of Huntsville
was made secretary
A committee was appointed to invite
Mayor George B. Ward of Birmingham
to seat on the floor. but that official
was found to be absent from his office.
In stating the needs of municipal legis-
lation Chairman Smith said that most of
the cities of North Alabama which are
interested in the matter of securing bet
ter municipal laws are growing very
md had w ha nv
islative limitations in the matter of max
ing assessments for public improvements.
He said that Gadsden is growing rapidly
and that for these reasons the city is
without streets, sidewalks, sewerage and
other improvements of the kind, and that
the city officials are powerless to remedy
the defect without some sort of legisla-
ton granting them more power in col
lecting taxes and extending the city ad-
ministration.
He argued that the cities should be al
lowed more freedom in the way of self
local government so that each individual
town may make such advancement in the
way of public Improvements as circum-
stances will admit and the growth of the
town demands.
Mayor Blackwell of New Decatur made
a short address in which he agreed with
Mr.. Smith and suggested the appoint
ment of a committee to confer with the
state interested as to their several needs
and report to the conference.
Should "Butt In"
Secretary r. E. Smith argued that
cities of the first class of the state en-
ioyed better privileges of self-govern
ment than those of the second-class and
advocated the passage of laws that would
give the cities of the later class equal
privileges. He said that the smaller
towns of the state should butt in and
demand their rights of the Legislature.
o. r. Hood of Gadsden made a strong
appeal for local government, and
called upon those present to make a
united effort to secure such legislation as
would give the smaller municipalities
more power in administering its affairs
and especially in the matter of local
taxation for public improvements. He
also spoke of the rapid growth of the
towns of North Alabama and pointed out
the difficulties they are all experiencing
in the matter of providing revenues for
needed Improvements
]. B. Weakley of Birmingham was pres
ent and was called upon for talk. He
said that having himself been at one
time Mayor of Florence. ne recognized
the great need of cooperation In the
heads OF municipalities in Effort to Sc
cure better legislation for the govern
nent OF cities of the second class. He
said that the walker municipal code"
law which would pro baby be introduced
at the next session of the Legislature, Is
now what the cities of Alabama need
and he ventured the prediction that it
would pass. He said that the great need