The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-29
Prepared by State cOdifier ). ).
 Mayfield.
Measure to Provide Charters for Cities Promises to Raise Difficulties Dropped at Last
 sesSIon.

The hills prepared by Judge J. J. Mayfield. State Codifier. to carry out the recommendations of the new Con- stitution. and to complete the denclen- cies of the Code, were yesterday lntro- duced into the Senate by Senator Perry Thomas of Barbour County. By Tar the most important bill of the lot IS the bill containing municipal code for the cities of Alabama.
 The Constitution charged the Legis- lature with the duty of preparing a munici, al Code which should classify the cities of Alabama, and which should proyide a system or charter for each class of cfries. The last Legislature quit work without enacting such code. A municipal code was prepareu by Judge R. w. Walker, who was both member of the Constitutional Conven- ton and of the last Legislature. The Legislature struggled over the Walker bill throughout the session. and finally went home without doing anything about 1t.
 The matter Is one which occupied the attention of the municipal authorities throughout Alabama for the last twelve months or more, and which has result cd in a number of meetings. Mayors of cities which were thought to be of the first class, cities like Montgomery, Mobile and Birmingham, have met sev- eraI times, as have mayors Of the sec- ond class like Selma. Huntsville, Gads- den and Ensley. And municipal otfi- cers of cities of smaller size nave also met and discussed the prososed muni- cipal Legislation.
 A general municipal code Is tick fish proposition. If it Is enacted nJ matter how 1t Is arranged. sometimes toes will be stepped on No matter how 1t is drawn. some mayor VIII lose owers with which he is at present pos sessed No matter how 1t is drawn. some mayor will become possessed of powers which he has not heretofore had No matter how 1t is drawn, some city will have to select a chief of po- lice in a new way. And in other ways changes are to be made.
 As a consequence there are many con- lieting ideas of what a municipal code ought to contain. That was the mat ter with the last Lesisiature. In the present Legislature several municipal codes have beah Introduced, although h the one presented by Senator Thomas yesterday IS the only one that has been introduced in the Senate. In the House, however, two municipal codes have been introduced. one repared by Richard Fries and the other by Attorney q D. Smith of Birmingham.
 The bills prepared yesterday by the State Codifier, and introduced in the Senate by Senator Thomas were. as I whole, intended to make certain Ala bama laws conform with :he laws of other States. The State Codifer's bills included these of the following Jitle'
 To establish law uniform with the laws of other states, as to negotiable instruments.
 To establish a law uniform with tho laws of other States as to the probate in this State.
 To establish a law uniform with thI law uf other States relative to the ex ecution of wills.
 To provide for court stenographers or official court reporters for the Stat of Alabama.
 To establish a law uniform with th' laws of other States to the sealing o deeds and other written instruments.
 To regulate admission to the bar and