The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-20

the Iegislatfve officials to the people whom the laws would affect.
 Each member of the Board of Public Works, which it is proposed to cre- ate, should this suggestion pass mus ter with the Committee with the coun- oil, and finally with majority of the members of each house of the Legisla- ture, and with the Governor. would have a certain branch of the city gov- ernment to look after, although he would devote his attention, In a gen. erai way, to all the affairs of the city.
 Thue one Alderman on the board might have particular supervision of the city
 water works. another of the police de- pertinent, another of sanitary meas
 ures, and so on.
 This commissioner plan of city gov ernment, as 1t Is commonly known, be- cause of it's similarity to the commits sioner system that is in vogue in County government in practically all parts of the United States, first came prominently before the public follow ing the terrible hood few years ago
 at Galveston. The situation there was such that the leading citizens of the place believed that the ordinary form of city government, by a mayor and a board of aldermen, would be so cum bersome as to be inadequate to the great needs of the city at that partic~ bular time. A form of government where both the legislative and execu- tive branches of the city were vested in the same people. with daily sessions of the legislative body. followed by ac- tive work by the members of that body in vigorous executive action, was ae- vised, and worked SO well there thar it has since been copied in other cities. The suggested change from a mayor and aldermen to a Board of Public Works ss known to have friends, both among the officials and among the cit-
 ixens of Montgomery, but many, even of those friends of tho idea, question the ability of attempting to make
 so radical A change at this time. No matter what sn1ay he the action
 taken with reference to this change in
 the system of government, there are a
 number who believe that 1t would be
 more satisfactory to have more of the
 city officials elected by the people at large, Instead of being appointed eith--
 CT by the mayor or the council, or
 both. This is one of the contemplated
 changes in the city government, as It
 is now regulated by the charter.
 Among the positions which some be-
 lieve should be elective, are the City Clerk. City Treasurer and Chief of Po-
 lice. At present, only the mayor and
 
 elected by the people.
 One change that has been suggested,
 and which will likely be viewed with flavor By the committeeman, is in the disposition of the revenue derived by
 the State of Alabama from the sale of liQuor licenses within the city of Mont
 gomery, which amounts to $200 per annum for each saloon. A provision is incorporated in the laws of the State eh~f al o.tefs vavantsa hw fha EtakA from
 that city is turned over to the city Of
 Mobile, for use In the maintenance of
 the public school system there. The
 endeavor is to be made. in all proba-
 bility, to secure law which will pro-
 vide for a like disposal of the States Iiauor license money from Montgom- cry, for the aid of the schools here.
 There are a large number of amend ments that have been proposed for the Montgomery city charter, largely of rather a minor nature. These amend
 ments are upon portions of the ctty's basic law which have been found. at some time in the past, to be tnade- Quate to cover some situation that has arisen.
 Considerable importance attaches to the conference of the Legislative Com mtttee, as it seems likely its report will be accepted by the Council without se- rious question, unless the proposed changes are of . sweeping character, and will be recommended to the ape preaching session of the State Legis- lature for enactment into law. And the Legielature. doubtless, will give a great deal of heed in it's deliberations upon a matter which concerns Mont gomery, and practically Montgomery alone. to the expressed wishes of Mont gomery's legislative body.