The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-28
COMMISSION
GOVERNMENT
Lengthy Bill Is Intro
duced.
IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL
Representative Urquhart Makes
Numerous General Provisions.
4 U.isue Feature Of the systen !.
That which Forbids A.y ce.-
veatioa or Primary to Nans
Commissioners.
IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL

In its entire great volume--great be-
cause it must be general law--the
Commission form of Government, which
Is proposed Tor any and all towns
and cities Of Alabama, was embodied in
the UrQuhart bill introduced In the
House Of Representatives yesterday, 1t
win be recorded as the longest of bills
at the extra session. There are many
reasons. besides the facts that In order.
to make 1t available for all of class.
and therefore numerous general proyis-
ions are Incorporated In the measure.
! But in order for the proposal to get
the majority vote needed, there must
be a load Of concessions--of generous
prcvisions--in the BILL These are plen-'
tifui and are deemed by the author Mr..
Urquhart Of Jefferson. as suncfently
fair to get the approval OF all municip-
al forces In the State. 8 It Is ths
very embodiment of referendum and
does not mean to disturb existing mu-
nicipal government, except BY plain,
unequivocal majority OF the uualified
voters in any municipality. 1t left TO
the choice Of any town OF city OF any
size. as to whether 1t VIII assume the
commission form Of government And
even after the adoption by popular vote.
IL the city becomes dissatisfied with II,
the majority OF the voters can inter
fere and abolish IT.. returning to. the
pertinent.
Nor would the terms of the Mayors
as they now exist be- disturbed. The
commission government could not take
place in any city. until the then terms
of such officers should have ended. The
uniform beginning of the terms OF
MAYORS and Commissioners would be on
the first Monday In October. unlessi In
the petition for the election on the
question of that form OF government, II
was stated that some other date
should apply. 80
The bin would classify cities into
A and B, the first being those OF a GEN.
the latter OF less than $4,000 popuia-
tion. In the application for an elect
Son in any city or town II would be the
choice of the people as TO whether the
commission would be composed of May
or and two Commissioners, OF OK the
Mayor and four Commissioners. The
election would be biennially unless
otherwise desired by the municipality
and the commissioners themselves by
majority vote are to all the vacancies.
Forbids Primarfess
An unique feature OF the system rs
that which forbids any convention or
primary for the nomination OF the May
or and Commissioners. All candidacies
must be In the regular election at q
prescribed time and the candidacy can
not be started without a certificate OF
100 or more citizens requesting the cam
didate to run and-the fact OF the cam
didacy must be published for three
weeks, at least once week. In all daily
newspapers In a city or in weekly pa
pers In no dailies are there.
The general Legislative and adminfs-
trative authority OF the commission
would be the same as are now confer
red upon the town or city council,
but II Is provided that the commission
should not step on the toes Of the
State Board OF Health. the Board of Ed
ucation, any river commission or court
now existing.
If the commission were composed of
a Mayor and four Commissioners. the
following would be the the departments