The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
COMMISSION BILL IS DRAF TED FOR
 CITIES OF ALABAMA
Urquhart Gives Out Text of Measure to Be Presented
 to the Legislature
REFEREND DUM FEATURE IS
 INCORPORATED IN BILL
No Party Candidates Allowed, No Elec- tioneering Permitted and Com missoners Can Be Removed
 At Will of Voters.

missioners Can Be Removed
 At Will of Voters.
 W. B. Urquhart, member of the legisla- ture from Jefferson county, has com pleted his bill for the commission form of government after weeks of careful work. It is a bill of B sections and is quite lengthy. It is a general law which must first be adopted at an eceltion and it provides for mayor and two com- missioners, civil service for filling of- fees, the initiative and referendum in removing officers, or forcing the passage or repeal of ordinances. Following is a brief outline of its contents:
 The bill is entitled an act to provide the adoption thereof by special election additional to chapter 32 of the code of 1907. It provides that any city of pop ulation of over 10000 may take advantage of the act after ascertaining the popula- tion in the legal manner. On a petition of 20 per cent of the legal voters the mayor must submit the question to a vote and if the majority of the votes are cast in favor of the commission form of government the mayor must proceed with the election of mayor and two commissioners at the next regular elec- tion However if the next regular elec- ton does not occur within one year the ms shall In dau cial election for the election of mayor and two commissioners.
 Mayor Cannot Be ousted.
 The bill specifically provides that no mayor of any city holding office at the time of the passage of this act shall be deprived of his office by the adoption of the provisions hereof by such city during his term of office but said mayor shall continue to hold office to the end of his term, subject to the provisions of this act and in such case within 15 days after such special election in any city adopting the provisions of this act two commissioners shall be appointed by the governor who shall beginning with the first Monday after their appointment, with the mayor, hold office until the next general election for municipal officers"
 All laws, ordinances and resolutions passed previously by the legislature oi the city council remain in effect. Tn, mayor and two commissioners shall b, elected bi-annually in the city at larg, and in their joint capacity shall be desig mated as 'the council" Natural vacancies caused in the council by natural causes shall be filled by the remaining commits sioners
 The council shall have exclusive control and election of all other officers of the city.
 Does Away With Parties.
 Section provides that candidates to be voted for at all elections at which a mayor and two commissioners or eith- CT are to be elected under the provi- sions of this. act, shall not be nominated by any primary election or any conven- tion of any political party and it shall be unlawful for any political party or any committee, convention or any other sub- division of any political party or sub- stitute therefor, or individuals thereof act ing for such, to nominate any candidate for any office provided for in this act, or otherwise indicate choice of candi- date or candidates as above provided; and any violation of this provision shall be a misdemeanor and punishable as such under section 1922 of the criminal code of 1907" A person desiring to become can didate must qualify by filing a petition of 100 names with the city clerk.
 The bill further provides the details of the election and that candidate must fore he is elected. In case no candidate receives such a majority in the first cleo tion the bill provides for a run-off Is days later between the two highest can didates for mayor and the four highest candidates for commissioners.
 No EIectioneering Permitted.
 Section also provides that any per- son who shall perform, offer or agree to perform any electioneering service in the interest of any candidate for any office provided in this act, in consid- eration of any promise of office, money, or Otner NdludDle lllHS lOI SuCll SeTN- i've performed in the interest of any candidate, and any person who gives, offers or agrees to give any promise of office money or other valuable thing in consideration of the performance of any electioneering service performed or to be performed in the interest of any candidate for office provided by this act shall be punished by fine of not exceeding $500, or to be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding 30 days"
 The Mayor presides at meetings of the council but has no power of veto. The council shall possess and exercise all executive, legislative and judicial pow CTS and duties possessed by any of ficers of the city. The administration snail be distributed into three depart ments, the department of public affairs and safety, the department of accounts and finances, and the department of -77'--=7==--
 SunnOse VOL 0uit