The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-22
COMMISSION BILL
 WILL BE AMENDED Smaller Cities May Want New
 System
MANY LETTERS RECEIVED
Senator Screws Says Provision Is Wanted for Towns of Population
 of e5OO to c5,OOO--Routine News of the Capitol

Montgomery, December 21.-(Special.)-
 State Senator Nj. H. Screws of Mont
 gomery county, author of the commission
 government bill, which is to be introduced into both houses of the legislature almost imme diately upon convocation of that
 body in this city January 10. is planning to so amend his measure between now and the assemblage of the solons as to
 permit the cities of Dothan and Hunts
 vile to enjoy its provisions. Pressure
 which has been brought to bear upon
 him has led him to believe that each of
 the cities in question is desirous of in- staling a commission instead of it's pres
 ent system, and as consequence he is of the opinion that his first draft should be modified to suit all needs.
 According to the plans which he has tentatively mapped out, the new bill Will delegate to Class the task of satisfying tie smaller communities. The class will include those cities ranging in population iron, $500 to 25,0O0--or 6500 to 15,000, there being no cities in Alabama with popula- | ton between 15,OO0 and 25,000 Election would be held to determine whether or not commission government should be
 
 | had.
 Senator Screws states that he has re- | ce;ved countless letters from such com nmnities, in all of which urgent prayer IS made that the Montgomery bill be adapted | to suit the needs of the entire common | wealth. The representative adds that the whole bill has met with most favorapie comment. numberless letters to him testi- fvine. to the merits of the measure These I letters have been written, in many ln- stances. by the solons who will assemble at the 1911 session, thus tending to snow | that the bill will have easy sailing when | it strikes the legislative body.
 Mobiles Status
 Montgomerys state senator IS interest," | ed in the Mobile situation relative to com mission government, and regrets the im- ,,ression which has gotten out that he an- | ti,.ipates non-action on the part or Ala bama's seaport The impression Is dl- rectlv contrary to the senator's views and wishes. oo,,.- sI am very anxious, indeed, to see com ,o;ssion government in Mobile stated Senator Screws apropos the situa'ioii III | thot city. "and I can assure all Inter | ested parties that I will lend my hearty | srnnort to have the citizens Of Mooile
 meet the requirements Of the pili. It
 ho nnens that Mobile was put in that class
 ,t, tna cities that are required to pre-
 sent netition, signed by at least 24o .o.aro before an election can be had on tho question. My figures regarding the 1 soo,,,red number of voters were merely
 rh;trarv If the Mobile senator makes
 aaa,,est to me to modify these hgures'
 s,a reou;re a smaller petition, it will be
 s.,,, nleasure to conform the bill to suit
 his wishes. It would be OBVIOUSLY m
 rossible and improper for me 10 en. deayor to ascertain what the Peopie VI
 Mobile want in so far as commission gov N.,,,t ;s concerned My views thereon
 .,mst of course be guided by the views
 ,s tbe Mobile senator, with whom up to | - ., ,,.asent time I have had no consul taton. e., Mobile so | T am concerned, is up to Mobile,
 nd to her delegated representatives.
 na,eve that commission government | ,vou,d benefit Mobile, and l nope to see
 1t there"
 The bill which Senator Screws had pre-
 pared it modelled after the Des Moines
 eaon,r,iss;on plan. and is designed to inn
 ,,a ths conditions in all municipalities.
 Th. state senator admits. however, that
 ha ,s largely ignorant of the wishes of the
 ,,eonle of Alabama, with the single ex- rent,on of the citizens of Montgomery,
 fo, whom the bill was directly prepared.
 Senator Screws says, regarding the re-
 ouirements of the bill Tt is not exceed ingly difficult for any city in Alabama to
 meet the requirements of the measure.
 In those cities where petition for an election is required a good deal of hard
 work would be required to meet these
 demands, but commission government IS
 a good proposition and it is worth hard work"
 Routine Capitol News
 l Secretary of State Cyrus B. Brown has ' a.ei...l l,f hn inc a