The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-04
(JR0UHART'S PLAN FOR CITY
GOVERNMENT BY COMMISSION
JEFFERSON COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE WILL INTRODUCE
BILL ESTABLISHING COMMISSION FORM OF GOV
ERNIdENT FOR EXTRAORDINARY BE AMEND
SEX ED TO TAKE IN OTHER CITIES

tafned in western cities. Is becoming
i've issue throughout the country.
Agitation for commission government
z has begun In Alabama. especially In
Bifmfngham, where 1t has won con-
d sfderable support.
Representative w. E. UrQuhart, OF
Jefferson has prepared bill which
while general in its nature provides
! for . commission form of government
for Birmingham. The bill embodies
complete working plan OF municipal
government under a commission. Be-
cause Of the Importance Of the oues-
tiop OF which great deal will be said
and written in the next few years. The
Advertiser publishes in full the bill
Which Mr.. UrQuhart proposes to in
troduce at the extra session OF the
Leeislature.
The bill IL as follows:
Be 1t enacted by the Legislature OF
3 Alabama:
section / That any city now or
hereafter having a population OF sew
enty thousand or over. may become or
Ganized as a city under the provisions
OF this Act, by proceeding as hereinaf-
ter provided. The population OF any
such city may be determined either
: by the last preceding United States
oensus or by census taken In accor-
dance with the laws of the State OF
Alabama governing the taking OF a
municipal census except that such CEN
I sus shall be ordered by the Mayor
when petitioned by one hundred quail
ned voters of said city, and the emu
merators shall be appointed by the
Mayor.
Sect. .. Upon petition Of electors
equal to twenty-five percentum of the
voters cast for all candidates Tor Mayor
At the last preceding City election. at
which q Mayor was elected, the Mayor
shall submit the question of organic
ting as q city under this Act as a spec
fal election to be held at time speci-
fiedStherein, and within sixty days az
ter said petition Is he'd II said plan
Is not adopted at the special election
called, the question Of adopting said
plan shall not be resubmitted to the
voters of said city for adoption with
in one year thereafter, and then the
question to adopt shall be resubmitted
upon the presentation of a petition
signed by electors equal in number to
Twenty-Five percentum OF the votes
cast for all candidates for mavor at
the last preceding general city cleo
ton.
At such election the proposition to
be submitted shall be, Shall the pro-
position to organize the city of (name
Of city, under a Commission Govern
ment he adopted? and the election
thereupon shall be conducted, the vote
canvassed, and the result declared In
the same manner as provided by law
In respect TO other city elections. II
the majority of the votes cast shall be
in favor thereof. the city shall there
upon proceed to the election of mayor
and two CD commissioners. as herein
after provided. Immediately after
such proposition is adopted. the mayor
shall transmit to the Secretary of State
= 70 afa Dr0n0Sl-
tionf was adopted.
At the regular city election after
the adoption of such proposition. there
shall be elected a mayor and two GU
commissioners In event. however. that
the next regular city election does not
occur within one year after such spec
fals election. the Mayor shall. within
ten days after such special election.
BY proclamation, call a special election
for the election OF a mayor aiAd two
commissioners. sixty days notice there
saf being given in such call: such cleo
ton In either case to be conducted as
hereinafter provided. But no Mayor
spf any city holding office at the time
Z Of the passage of this Act shall be de-
ptived of his Office. by the adoption OF
the provisions hereof by such city dur"
4 Ing his term Of office. but said Mayor
G shall continue as mayor OF said city to
the end of his term. subject to the pro-
visions of this Act and In such case
within fifteen days after such special
election in any city adopting the pro-
visions of this Act. two commissioners
shall be appointed bv the Governor who
shall beginning WITH the first Mon
day after their appointment. with the
Mayor hold ONCE until the next gen.
eral election for municipal officers.
The Old Governments.
Sect. 3. All laws governing cities
oh n
consistent with the provisions of this
4 Act which are applicable to such cities
at the time of the adoption by anv
such city of the provisions of this Act
shall apply to and govern said cities
when organized under this act. All
bylaws. ordinances and resolutions
lawfully passed and in force in anv
such city under its former organization
shall remain in force until altered or
repealed by the commissioners elected
under the provisions of this Act or
as otherwise provided herein. The ad-
option by any city of the provisions OF
this Act shall not thereby effect its
territorial limit, and all rights under
It's former organization shall vest In
same under the organization herein
contemplated. and no right or liability
either in favor of or against 1t, exist
ing at the time, and no suit or prose-
cution of any kind shall be affected nv
such change, unless otherwise proVlo-
5 ed for in this Act.
Sect 4. In every such city there
shall be elected at the regular biennial
a Municipal election, a mayor and two
l2) commissioners who in their joint
capacity shall be designated as the
council
If any vacancy occurs in any such
office the remaining members of said
council shall appoint a person to fill
such vacancy during the balance of the
tinexpired term, unless said person shall
be recalled in the manner hereinafter
provided.
Said officers shall be elected at large.
Said officers shall qualify and their
terms of office shall begin on the first
Monday in October thereafter. But
IL said officers are elected al a special
election their terms of Office shall be-
gin on the first Monday thereafter.
The terms of office of the Mayor and
CoupcIkinen or Aldermen in such city
In once at the beginning of the terms
OF Office of the Mayor and commission
ers Arst elected or appointed under
the provisions of thiS Act and all other
elective officers shall then cease and
determine unless herein otherwise
proyided, and the terms Of office of all
other appointive officers in force in
such city except as hereinafter pro-
vtded. shall cease and determine as
soon as Commissioners shall by reso--
luton declare.
Sect 8. Candidates to be voted for
at all elections at which a mayor and
two commissioners or either, are to be