The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-13
URGE ACTION FOR
 ENLARGED CITY
Special Committee Reports to
 President Raul
LEGISLATURE HAS POWER
Committee Asks That Governor Be Re- quested To Incorporate Greater Birmingham In Gall for
 Special Session.

The special legislative committee of the Commercial club appointed to consider the Greater Birmingham problem has com- pleted it's report and submitted it Tn writing to President Raul. It is care fully drawn to show that the legislature has the right to pass local bill to ex- tend the limits of a city and urges that the governor incorporate it in his call for an extra session The report is signed by E. D. Smith, chairman, Jere C. King and Sidney J. Bowie, and Is as follows: Hon. John L. Kaul, President Conner
 eial Club. City.
 Dear Sr:-The committee on legisla- ton to whom you referred the Greater Birmingham question, begs leave to re- port as follows:
 That the city of Birmingham was shown to have only 3S,415 Inhabitants in the last federal census, which greatly crip- pied her prestige in the marts of the commercial and business world, and has greatly embarrassed the people of Bir mingham in advertising the city in it's rapid development and growth, and,
 The growing sentiment for a Greater Birmingham which should consolidate the adjacent municipalities with the city of Birmingham, was crystalized in the pas sage of a local act by the legislature at it's July session in 1907, which would give us a city of more than 100000 popu- lation for the next federal census; would establish the supremacy of Birmingham as the imperial city of Alabama, and fix her status in the front rank of the leading cities of the south, and This law was enthusiastically ratified by vote of the people by a great pop ular majority, 3496 votes being cast for Greater Birmingham and 900 against Greater Birmingham, thereby showing a strong public approval of this law. And since the adjournment of the legislature serious defects appear in it's records as shown upon the senate journal. relative to the passage of this act by the senate, which seriously involve the constitution ality and validity of this law, which will probably be decided adversely to said city by the courts, whereby the people would be deprived of the great benefit to be derived therefrom, before the cen sus is taken, unless a special session of the legislature is held. Neither do we believe the city limits can be enlarged under any of the general laws that have been passed relating to this subject.
 After giving the matter careful consid- eration this committee is unanimously and firmly of the opinion that the legislature has the authority to enlarge the city limits by local act under provision of sub division IS of section 104 of the con- stitution of Alabama, which says that the constitution shall not prohibit the legislature from altering or rearranging the boundaries of the city, town or vil- lage," and that the contention that the legislature has no such authority is not well taken.
 We therefore recommend that proper steps be taken to request the governor, in case special session of the legisla- ture shall be held at any time during the present year, to include among the subjects for consideration at such spe- cial session the question of altering or rearranging the boundary lines of the city of Birmingham so as to consolidate with the city of Birmingham the terri tory that was included in the act known as the King Greater Birmingham bill," passed by the legislature and approved by the Governor in August, 1907.
 And your committee further recom- mends that proper bill to this end be prepared and advertised at once. Respect fully summitted
 E. D. SMITH
 JERE c. KING,
 SIDNEY J. BOWIE.