The Detroit times., 1909-01-07
III
City OWNERSHIP
4 Be made EASY
INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
AIMED MERELY TO MAKE !"
FOSSILS - CLEVER ADDRESS
ON MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
..s-LswroN t. HEnaNs.

Iawton r. Hemans, member OF the
<<)Dstitutional convention, mayor or
Mason. and Democratic candidate for
<Royernor In the last election, was the
tprfncipal speaker at the Board o.
q commerce luncheon. Thursday, In the
Motel Pontchartrain. His topic was
E Municipal government in Michigan
E>fnder the new constitution" His ad-
E<lress was devoted largely 10 a discus
sion of the home rulep disabilities uf
|Jbc new fundamental law.
M Municipal government has been
based upon The wrong theory in the
1,ast. he argued, in government under
t1cclslafive special charters, and he de
|ciared that the hope of the cities in
{ the future Is in home rule spirit
which will result in the making Of the
'Rovernment by the people and their
holding the officials responsible. In
this, he added. Michigan has gone
3nheaH OF other states In its constitu-
'fion. ~
The suggestion of classifying the
tcities by the legislature and enacting
model charters for each class was de-
nornced as in opposition to the spirit
of the constitutional convention.
Levi L. Barbour presided over the
gathering OF 175 business and profess
kiCnal men. He declared that He
mans had not been one OF the men
who talked most in the constitutional
conyention, but one who talked best
.sThe people of Michigan have so ar
hanged III that II is not necessary for
me to be In Lansing today began RE
mans. Speaking Of his views as "a
message from a hamlet to metrop.
oils" he declared that the funda
fmentals Of government are the same
IN both. He traced the rapid growth
1of city life, saying that, while Mich
1gnn had to induce pioneers to settle
In the state less than century ago,
more than half of the people or the
now live in cities.
Laws had not kept pace with chang
'ing conditions, he said, and he EN-
phasized the greatly increasing values
'of franchises. In the handling OF
ithese has lain the weakness OF NUM-
'cipal government. he declared.
.sWhile we may be blessed beyond
measure in Michigan, the revelations
~ Pittsburg, st. Louis. San Francis
% and other cities have shown condi-
Hons that may occur in any place at
my time"
~ ssThe foundation of our city govern
,xnent has been wrong-the grant from
~ legislative body to people, granted
10 distrust."
In the new spirit of home rule he
|1ound the disposition to hold officials
responsible to the people over which
they become rulers or act as servants.
The duty of the present legislature,
- Hemms laid It down. Is TO pass
4 Henerar home rule law that will mt
the simple. needs OF any municipality
fr0m the smallest To the largest and
<xiye each opportunity to shape its
own charter with regard to the things
Thai are purely local and municipal.
The things In which the state should
sbe supreme, such as police regulation
and education. he exempted from this
Hist.
v 1t was not the purpose OF the con-
Eotituionai convention. he contended. to
make H-easy for municipalities TO en-
bark onApublc ownership projects but
rather to leave IL possible for them to
undertake such ventures in case 1t be-
tcame necessary. by the will OF more
B than a majority OF the people.