The Detroit times., 1910-11-17
F. ". SMITH HANDS
KNOCK To CIVIL
SERVICE
Former Police Commissioner Says
Measure Defeats Its Aim by Giving
Partisan Mayor Casting Vote When
Board Fails To Agree.
Other Sections, He Contends, Afford
Opportunity for Petty Graft-What
Does Capacity" Meant

Fred W. Smith, former police com
missioner, =" there are many weak
points In the charter amendment pro-
viding FOR the creatio OF civil ser
vice commission for Detroit. He con
tends, among other thinsi. that the
Amendment misses entirely the mark
at which II aimed, namely. the taking
or municipal employees out OF politics
Right In the beginning OF the char.
ter amendment, the first cect-on,' said
Mr.. Smith, we fir the provision
which will tend 90 keep municipal
DositionE and politics together. In
this section IL is set forth that the
mayor OF the city, no tier who he
may be. Democrat or Republican, has
the power of wing the casting vote In
the event OF the four commissioners,
two of whL-l are TO he Republicans
and two Democrats. becoming dead
locked on an appointment, promotion
or a dismissal.
Now, human nature is pretty much
the same ar all times, and II is only
reasonable 10 suppose that the mayor,
II he be a Republican, will favor the
the other hand, the mayor, IL he be a
Democrat, Will doubtless incline to-
wards the Democratic side OF the
question. II Is all very we'll for peo-
pie TO contend that the mayor Will be
unbiased In such matters, but | think
that anyone who knows anything at
all about politics will admit that a
partisan mayor will most likely stand
by this party at all times, under rea-
sonable conditions. II is really unfor-
tunate that the amendment names the
mayor as the party TO have the decid-
ing vote In the matter. II would have
been much better 10 have chosen a
non-partisan person. The argument
might be advanced that 1t would be
dificult. PERHAPS impossible, 10 get a
man who would be entirely non-parti-
san for the position No doubt II
would be hard TO find the proper per
son. but there is no doubt that he
could be secured
Mayor Breitmeyer Aas even done
something, II he were rightly quoted.
which is at variance with the wording
OF the amendment. He Is reported to
have told the commissioners TO not
bring the fire and police departments
under the supervision OF the new bill,
intimating that these departments
have a form OF civil service of their
own. anc that 1t ought 20 suffice.
81 think the mayor is right in not
disturbing the police and fire depart
ments in regard to their civil service
wor.-, for | know that the police de-
partment, at least, is well-regulated by
the form OF civil service II employs
Yet, the mayor is going against the
provisions OF the Amendment III taking
the course he did. For instance, sec
ton II says very clearly that the city
controller is pay the salaries OF no
city official who does not come under
the regulation of the civil service bill.
Now. II the police and fremen are not
going to be governed by the new
amendment, how are they going to
he paid? OF course, the controller
may be adj 10 pay them without caus-
Ing any great harm bat he will clearly
violate the wording of the amendment
II he does Most people would. doubt
less. be satisfied 10 let the police and
hremen operate under their own form
OF civil service and get their pay as
they do now. but there Is no telling
what busybody is going TO rise up and
make a complaint.
Then, there is another feature, just
one word. In one section, which may
cause q heap OF trouble. | refer TO
the word capacity The examiner OF
candidates for num- ,ipal positions Is
given power 10 reject any applicant II
the latter lack capacity In the opin-
ion Of the examiner. Now. the exam
iner may have his own ideas about
capacity and an applicant may be
turned down because he may not just
suit the fine tastes OF the examiner on
a certain point. don't thin" that the
examiner should have such extraord-
mary powers. Many candidate for
an ONCE might be unfairly dealt with
under the conditions.
Again. there is provision which
makes an opening for petty graft
This may occur I'm connection with ne
section providing for the employment
OF city laborers. The commissioners
are told TO give aged men and men
with families the preference in en-
blowing laborers. Now, am not say
ing that any commissioners would do
any wrong T. this connection. but the
wording of the section certainly makes
Il possible for petty graft to creep in.
I'm my opinion, while the charter
amendment, was undoubtedly framed
in good faith and conceived in an un.
biased 7pjrit. the provisions ] have
enumerated nullify the object sought
As a corrective measure II cannot
come up to all that was expected OF It,
Il Is too late now 10 change It: the
only thing To do to overcome the diff
entities would be 20 submit another