The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-25
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS

Montgomery, January A.-(Special)- The general local option bill to be known as the temperance committee bill and understood as the bill having the approval of Governor O'Neal, was introduced by Representative John V. Smith of Mont Romery this afternoon.
 By the provisions of the bill cities of 10000 and more population are made units, and a majority of the qualified voters of these cities can declare at the polls whether or not the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors shall be permitted. The bill on the date of its enactment into law becomes effective.
 One-nfth of the qualified voters of the caties profiting from the provisions of the bill can, by petitloning the probate judges of the counties wherein the cities are located, call local option elections. Ten days following the petitions the probate Judges shall call the election and the elections shall occur 90 days following the call by the judges q The bill is house bill No. ao2, and it has been ordered that 2OOo copies shall be printed before the temperance committee makes its report on the measure It is safe prediction that the report of the tenn perance committee will be a favorable report. It is equally safe to predict that there will occur on the passage of inc bill a most spirited fight in both houses.
 The Excise Commission
 Rv the terms of the bill an excise com mission shall have control of the liquor traffic in each city. The commission shall consist of three members, to be named by the governor, one commits sioner to be known as the chairman, and the others as associate commits sioners.
 This excise commission shall have to do with the issuance of all licenses and the supervision of the general liquor business. In providing for the payment of the members of the commission the cities of the state are divided Into three classes as follows: Class A, consisting of cities of more than 6O,0OO population; Class B, consisting of cities of more than 3O,- 600 population; Class c, consisting of cities of more than 10000 population. The chair men of the commissions shall receive the following recommendations: Class A, 5000; Class B, $1500; Class C., $900. The asso- ciate commissioners shall receive the following remuneration: Class A, $25O0; Class B, $1200: Class C. s600
 The chairmen of commissions shall be named for a period of 3 years. The as- sociates shall be appointed for periods of two and one year, respectively All subsequent appointments shall be for a period of four years
 AS has been pointed out the Dill pro- yides that all liquors shall be sold in
 xryffh 4 ho O tions, and makes it compulsory on the excise commissions to have a chemical analysis made of all liquors at least twice q year. and oftener if deemed necessary. By a provision of the bill, all liquors which do not meet the requirements shall be destroyed.
 The Number of Saloons
 According to the bill there shall be but one saloon for every 1000 people. In Birmingham. therefore, the bill, if enacted into law, will provide for 132 saloons. The question to be submitted to the yotlrs will be license or no license" After the, first election there shall occur no other withi n period of four years.
 According to the provisions of the bill there shall be no drinking at the bars. The drinks are to be served pur- chasers seated at tables in room Separate from the place where they are poured from bottles and mixed and into the room of preparation to one will be admitted save the proprietor. the walters and other people directly interested in the business.
 The room of service Is to be open to view and on the ground floor It shall contain no screens or other articles cutting off the view of passersby.
 The saloons shall not be opened be- fore 6 o'clock in the mornings and shall be closed at II o'clock at night. At other times no liquors can be sold save by registered pharmacists at the in- structlons of reputable physicians.
 The Amount of License
 Retail dealers will be required to pay aale dealers, s1600 per annum: distill- CTS sl500 per annum; social clubs, the date of organization of which is five years previous to the application for iicensc and which sell to members only. $500.
 i-ifrhe probate Judge shall receive a fde of 50 cents for every license issued At the obstruction of the excise com fiission. All moneys received for licenses shall be turned over to the Gties. the state and the counties as follows: ITO, the city, 40 per cent; to the state, 4QT per cent; to the county. 1Qper cent
 istuance of licenses entirely in its clhrge. shall pass on the character of thu applicants and the place at which thu Intended business will be trans ackd. There are the most rigid pro- \ E 4