Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-10-08
General Statutes
For Tenn. Cities
hilbert Tells OF Legislation Ap.
Plicable to Municipalities

Al meeting Of The Mayors of Teu.
nessss, held in Nashville on January
10th, last, when The Tennessee NUM-.
eipal League was organized, the writer
was requested to assist in the passage
ol number Of Enabling Acts In which
the Mayors Of Tennessee we're vitality
Interested.
beg TO report these Enabling Acts
were introduced at the Regular session
OF the Legislature aud passed, but fail.
ed TO become laws When The Gov
ernor announced his intention Of call.
ing an extra session, the writer filed a
request with him TO include the
Mayors Bills" in his CALL which he
did. ! am glad to report that the fol-
lowing bills endorsed and iOslered by
the League passed aud are now laws
An Act authorizing municipalities 10
issue bonds for municipal purposes, or
Tor retnndine outstanding bonds.
An Act providing a Commission
Form Of Government for cities, towns
aud municipalities
An Act authorizing counties 10 issue
bonds for road purposes
An Act authorizing towns and cities
TO make improvements on The abulline
property assessment plan.
An Act providing for The creation Of
road improvement districts.
In the passage Of these bills, great
hines are in store for The smaller
towns in Tennessee in The way Of mum.
cipal improvements. believe through
the passage Of these bills, towns and
municipalities in Tennessee will be i'm.
proved and developed in keeping with
those Of other states, and trust very
much that the Members of the Munich
pal League will begin at once making
preparations 10 take advantage Of same.
Briefly summarized, the powers Civ
en- under these laws are; Authorizing
municipalities to issue bonds for all
municipal purposes; to surrender their
charters and Te-incOrpOrate under
Commission Form Of Government; TO
make street Improvements on the abut-
ting property plan Under the pro-
visions Of the Municipal Bond Issue
Act, bonds can be issued for any im.
prOVement in the town. In all Of
these Enabling Acts the referendum
clause is inserted, thereby giving The
people an opportunity Of registering
their approval or disapprOval before
any bonds are issued
| want TO call special attention to
the Act enabling towns to have Conn
mission Form Of Government il they so
desire. In my opinion this is one Of
the most progressive steps yet taken,
for the Municipal advance ment, and ]
trust every member of the League will
study the provisions Of this Act and at
no distant day take advantage Of same.
cannot praise too highly the work
of the Municipal League in the passae ee
Of these bills, all Of which leads me 10
believe that If the Mayors Of Tennessee
will co operate and work in unison
the League will be a great factor ia
the development and up. building oil
the State Of Tennessee. There are
many things in common in which all
municipalities are Interested and my
object in passing these general Enab
ling Acts was to Obviate the necessity
for local legislation.
In conclusion, | want to say thai i
was a pleasure to have known anC
worked in conjunction with so splendiC
class Of citizens as the Mayors o
Tennessee, and only trust that 70
the immediate future, at least, the,
will eschew politics and work for ihr
3 material upbuilding of the Grand Oh,
9 State Of Tennessee,
8 Yours very truly,
CHAS. c. GILBERT,