The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-17
MEASURE DRAWN
 FOR CITY RULE
Continued From Page One. ]

NOUhbSuNCG REWAh 4 0SO sVHAOsI right to override any of his acts by two-thirds vote.
 The mayor is vested with the veto power, but both he and members of the aldermanic board would be sub ject to recall.
 The mayor and aldermen would be elected for Indefinite and indeter- minate periods not to exceel four yearss''
 The city would be divided into nine districts, with each given aldermanic representation based on area and popu- lation. &
 Under the plan submitted, the com kIqittee believes politics would play little, if any, pdft in city affairs.
 The ordinance makes it misdemea- nor for any alderman to suggest to the mayor the appointment of any person to city position.
 The common council, compased of the p aldermen, would hold q regular meeting every two weeks, presided over by the mayor. Provision is made for as many special sessions as are found necessary.
 Aldermen would. receive $1O for each regular meeting attended, with no com pensatiun for called meetings.
 Salary of the mayor would be fixed by the council.
 No person would be eligible for cleo tion as city attorney until he had ac- tually practiced law at the Birming- ham bar for at least eight years.
 Combines Good Features"
 'This ordinance" said Mir. Arm strong, combines all the good features of city manager government, straight commission government and aldermanic government, and eliminates the objec- tionable features of each.
 EThe mayor would be recognized as the official head of the government and would be vested with considerable au- thority but at the same time held strictly accountable to the people.
 A city manager plan, in the com that it permits the council to bring an outsider here to take absolute charge. We believe in centralizing authority and responsibility, but we feel that the voters should be allowed to elect the head of the government.
 We have gotten away from all the bad phases of the Old-fashioned alder manic government, and have eliminated the numerous objections to the com mission form under which the city is now operating, We will place the plan Tn the hands of the people and frankly seek their advice and counsel. We hope all citizens interested-and every good citizen should be, will meet with us Friday afternoon and give their views. |"
 Judge Wilkinson, who has been studying municipal governments in many cities for weeks, expressed belief that the ordinance provides for the "best city government that could be established"
 This plan," Judge Wilkinson as- serted, "embodies the cream of the most efficient governments in America. It is practical and sound and would, in ,my estimation, mean a heavy saving to the taxpayers every year."
 Would Save .$25 ,OOO Yearly
 Armstrong estimated that the new plan would save $25,000 a year in salaries alone.
 "In addition" he went on, "it would force economy in all departments and at the same time produce efficiency. It is safe to say that city hall embezzle- ments would quickly come to an end under this system"
 Armstrong laid emphasis on the pro- vision for recall of the mayor or any member of council, declaring this to he essential in any form of government
 He also pointed to, the provision vest ing the NmayOr with vote power as highly essential
 From start to finish,' he said, i've have sought to remove the government as far as possible from politicial in- fluence.
 we have given the mayor the right