The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-18
MAIN FEATURES Of
HOME RULE BILL
OUTLINED
GENERAL PROVISION AGREED ON
IN DETROIT CONFERENCE AND
COMMITTEE is NAMED TO
DRAFT MEASURE. :

General outlines of "a law which VIII
carry out the home rule provisions Oh
the new constitution were settled upon
in conference held in the Board OF
Commerce rooms, Friday afternoon, IN
which most OF the important cities OF
the state were represented. A COM
mittee OF seven men, To be named by
Lawton +. Hemans,'the chairman, Will
draft the bill TO be presented III the
legislature and this will come up LOT
consideration at another conference
to be held in Detroit or Lansing soon.
.-Hemans was chosen chairman oil
this gathering, which was composed OF
representatives of the state senate,
constitutional convention, state BDr
association. League of Michigan MUM
cipalities, Detroit Board OF Commerce,
Grand Rapids Board of Trade ana
Port Huron Chamber OF Commerce.
Secretary Sawyer had provided mum
Der OF copies of the provisional syn
opsis OF bill as prepared by the,
Board OF Commerce committee ana
this formed the basis of discussion.
large number OF amendments
were made. some provisions taken out
and others added, but the general ma
ture OF the bill will be along the lines
originally laid down by the local com
mittee. One thing that developed
strongly was the desire expressed Dy
the representatives Of various small
cities 10 have the bill so drawn as to
allow them the right 10 adopt the
commission plan of government now
i'm vogue in Des Moines, Galveston and
other cities.
School matters will not. be touched
In this bill. because the state board
of education will draft school code
applying 10 all parts of the state.
The home rule bill will provide that
there shall be no classification of cit
les, present charters will be recognlz-
ed and new charters may be drafted
for any city only by an elected com
mission OF not less than nine mem
bers while amendments TO charters
may be prepared by such commits
sion, by the city's legislative body or
BIZ petition. New charters, revisions
and amendments must all be approx
ed by popular vote before going into
effect.
Other important sections in the bill
will cover the following: The right
OF eminent domain so that cities may
acquire land for sewer outlets, water
or other purposes. either within or
without the limits: requiring annual
estimates and appropriations; fixing
limit upon the bonding and taxing
powers Of cities and villages: provid-
ing for a uniform system OF tax col
lection and uniform system OF pub
lie accounting; providing for an cleo
tive executive head and a legislative
body In each city; ordering that new
or revised charters or amendments
must be filed with the secretary OF
state. providing for the Incorporation
OF new cities: providing for the means
OF annexing or consolidating territory
The conference reached no conclu-
sion on the proposition OF allowing
municipalities 10 adopt their own
methods in taxing property, many Of
those present feeling that some cities
would take advantage OF this to offer
tax exemption to- manufacturing indus
tries. Police regulation was also
dropped. the men present not reach
ing n satisfactory conclusion. and this
will come up later, the question being
as To how much home rule the cities
shall have in police matters.
The sentiment was expressed sev.
eral times that the legislature has
shown jealousy OF the action of the
constitutional convention members in
pressing their aid In drafting the laws
necessary to- put the constitution in
effect. The senators present declared
that they did not believe this 10 BE-
the feeling at their end OF the CAPT
toll.
The delegates to the conference