The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-11
nRnlNANcE NO. a5.


 An ordinance to define the powers and
 duties of committees of the City Coun-
 cil of Birmingham.
 Section l. Appointment of Committees As soon practicable after the organ ization of the council the president of the council shall appoint from said council the following committees of each or which he shall be ex-officio a member.
 l. Committee on Finance and Taxation.
 Z. Committee on Judiciary.
 3. Committee on Streets.
 4. Committee on Parks
 .. Committee on Cemeteries.
 6.Committee on Markets.
 :. Committee on Fire Department
 S. Committee on Police and Sanitation. s. Committee on Lights and Telephones.
 To- Committee on Public Buildings.
 H. Committee on Railways.
 F. Committee on Miscellaneous Business.
 1S Committee on Greater Birmingham.
 l4 Excise.
 15 Water.
 Sec 2 Duties of Commttees-rhe va rious standing committees shall perform such duties may be required of them by the council in addition to their reg ular duties as prescribed in this ordi- nance
 Sec. 2. May Summon Persons and Send for Papers-Wh Whenever a committee of the council Is raised or directed to prepare a report upon any matter pertaining to the administration of the city government and by resolution of the council such committee is authorized to summon per sons and send for papers, or both, 1t shall be the duty of every person sum moned witness by subpoena from the chairman of the committee to appear before 1t, and produce such papers and documents as shall be required in the subpoena.
 Sec. 1. Penalty for Failure to Appear Any person who shall willfully fail to at tend after being summoned as required in the preceding section, or who shall re- fuse without lawful excuse to answer any questions put to him. or to produce any paper or document lawfully demand ed of him. shall. on conviction, be inn prsoned for not less than one nor more than ten days.
 Sec. 5 Mayor May Appoint Special Com mittees-The president of the council may in his discretion, appoint from time to time special committees with reference to matters not falling within the domain of the regular standing committees.
 Sec. 6. Committee on Finance and Tax alton, Duties Defned-The committee on finance and taxation shall have general supervision and control of the financial affairs of the city, and they shall have under their charge all the revenues and income of the city arising from every source from which the city now derives, or shall hereafter derive, any revenue whatsoever. They shall perform general ly the duties of a committee on ways and means.
 Sec r. Must Examine Accounts of Of- ficers-They must once in six months, and oftener if required by the council, examine all accounts and transactions of every officer of the city who has the power and whose duty it Is to collect ar receive any money coming to our due the city. In making this investigation they must examine the reports which each of these officers shall ma' to the council and such other evidence may be found material. and ascertain how. when received. and on what account, and from what source. The committee shall have authority whenever necessary to employ expert clerical assistance in mak- ing this examination,
 Sec. &. Must Audit and Approve Ac- counts-They shall examine. audit and adjust all accounts. claims or demands against the city. and when the accounts are found to be correct the same shall be approved by said committee.
 Sec Q. Shall Report Resources and Property of the City-They shall from time to time. as the Council may direct ascertain whether or not there is any | money que the cllN, anu lTtH WHoHi and on what account. They shall also at the close of each fiscal year ascer- tain and report all the property of every kind belonging to the city and its value.
 Sec. 10. Report of Offcers-When any report of an officer touching the finances of the receipt and payment of moneys belonging to the city is made. it shall be filed and referred to this committee, shall p lntN "A thorough examination of such report, and all matters connected herewith and bmit the results of such eXamina . ton to the board at their next meet Ing.
 Sec. II. Supervision of raxes-The ey shall examine. into the assessment and collection of taxes, and from time to time make such recomme nda tions to the Council in reference to the revenues of the city as circumstances may require They shall see that the city does not suffer from leniency or negligence in the collection of taxes or other moneys due it.
 Sec. I2. Shall Make Debt State ments and Prepare Budget-They shall make at the close of each fiscal year a statement of all debts and claims against the city. to whom due and on what account. They shall at the same time ascertain and report to the Coun- ell the total amount of all receipts and disbursements during the past fiscal lxear. They shall also prepare before