The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-16
Will Come Before the
 Legislature Today.
IT WILL EFFECT MONTGOMERY
Three Aldermen of City Will Lose
 Their Jobs.
The New Municipal Code Has the En- dOrsement of All the Important Cities of the
 State.

The new municipal Code will go be- fore the Alabama Legislature today, endorsed by both Municipal Commit tees of the House and of the Sen1te. The new Code goes before the Legis.a- ture with every prospect of passage.
 The joint committee, composed of lhe two organization Committees on Muni- cipalities. finished their consideration of the new Code yesterday afternoon, and the report will be made in the House. where the Code will begin t.; journey of passage through the Legis- lature.
 We apprehend little or no trouble in its passage" said Representative Gaston Gunter of Montgomery County. who was Chairman of the Recess Con- mittee which prepared the Code. Tt is not only endorsed by the two ,r- ganiZaton committees but it is en- dorsed by the cities of the State as well. Birmingham, Montgomery. Mo- bile, Selma. Huntsville-all the fities are satisfied with it. I think that The bill will pass quickly as it deserves to pass
 The Code has been closely scann -d by representatives of all the principal towns and cities of the State. They had few amendments to urge. tut the amendments were never numer ous or of great importance. It appeared that the Code filled practically all the requirements that were necessary for Code. which would give general s2tS- faction.
 The new Code will only affect one farreaching change in the city of Montgomery. It will abolish the cffice of Alderman at Large. The three Al at of he ri ifu will he out of a job at the expiration of their present terms.
 The Code provides only for two AL dermen from each ward in city. In the scheme of Government adopted by the Code, there is no place for Alder -at-large, and Montgomery will have her a1dermanic representation cut down to fourteen members in the City Council.
 It may be stated. incidentally, that Mir. Gunter has legislated himself out of office. He happens to be one of the Aldermen-at-large for the city Of Montgomery. He does not. however take his seat as such a municipal cf- ficer until October 1. but under the Code. which he helped to prepare. he can only serve the two years for which he has already been elected.
 The new Code provides for a police commission. who shall elect a Chief of Police. It Is practically the same law which is now being tested in the courts. Under a recent decision of the Supreme Court, it will be recalled that Montgomery was given the ,egal right to have a police commission. There was contest over the matter, however and the issue went to the courts. But when the new Municipal Code becomes effective. there will be no question of any sort about the police commission.
 Very few changes are made. however. in Montgomery's municipal system. The cities are given considerable lee way in the regulation of their internal affairs.
 In the matter of patronage. for in stance. the city can continue it's pres ent system if it so desires. The sys- tenn can be continued whereby the Stu perintendent of Water Works, the City Engineer and other officers are named by the Mayor.