The Detroit times., 1910-11-18
F. ". SMITH HANDS
KNOCK To CIVIL
SERVICE
Former Police Commissioner Says
Measure Defeats It's Aim by Giving
Partisan Mayor Casting Vote When
Board Fails To Agree.

Fred W. Smith. former police com
missioner, there are many weak
points in the charter amendment pro-
yiding for the creatio- OF a civil ser
vice commission for Detroit. He con-
tends, among other thins7, that the
AMENDMENT misses entirely the mark
at which it aimed, namely. the taking
OF municipal employees out OF politics.
Right in the beginning OF the char
ter amendment. the first eect-on,' said
Mr. Smith. we fn the provision
which will tend 10 keep municipal
positions and politics together. In
this section II Is set forth that the
MAYOR OF the city, no y tier who he
may be. Democrat or Republican, has
the power OF Ting the casting vote in
The event OF the four commissioners,
TWO of VIII !. are 10 lie Republicans
and two Democrats, becoming dead
locked o. an appointment, promotion
I or a dismissal.
Now. human nature is pretty much
the same at all times, and il is only
reasonable TO suppose that the mayor,
If he be a Republican, will favor the
Republican on the point at issue. On
the other hand, the mayor, il he be a
| Democrat, will doubtless incline to-
wards the Democratic side of the
question. 1t is all very we'll for peo-
| pie 70 contend that the mayor will be
unbiased in such matters, but think
! that anyone who knows anything at
all about politics will admit that
partisan mayor will most likely stand
! by this party at all times, under rea-
sonable conditions. IL is really unfor-
tunate that the amendment names the
mayor As the party 10 have the decid-
ing vote in the matter II would have
been much better 10 have chosen
non-partisan person. The argument
might be advanced that IL would be
difficult. perhs impossible, TO get a
man who would be entirely non.parti-
san for the position. No doubt #
would be hard 10 find the proper per-
son. but there is no doubt that he
could be secuted.
Mayor Breitmeyer Aas even done
something. IL 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,
ntimating that these departments
have a form Of civil service Of their
own, anC that it ought to sufice.
II think the mayor Is right In not
disturbing the police and fire depart
ments in regard to their civil service.
wor for I know that the police de-
partment, al least, is well-regulated by
the form of civil service it employs.
Yet the mayor is going against the
provisions OF the amenument III taking
the course he did. For instance, sec
ton il Gays 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. n The police and firemen are not
going 10 be governed by the new
amendment how are they going TO
be paid OF course, the controller
may be ..bi 10 pay hem without caus
! ing any great harm, bat he will clearly
( violate the wording OF the amendment
| III he does. Most people would. doubt
| less be satisfied TO let the police and
| 6remen operate under their own form
4 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 a heap OF trouble refer 10
the word capacity. The examiner OF
! candidates for mum. iDal positions is
given power 20 reject any applicant II
the latter lack capacity in the opin-
ion OF tie examiner. Now. the exam
liner may have his own ideas about
capacity and an applicant may he
turned down because he may not just
suit the fine tastes Of The aminer on
a certain point , don't thin hat the
examiner should haze such axtrsOrd.
mary powers. Many q candidate Tor
an Office might he unfairly dealt with
under he conditions
Again here is provision which
makes an opening for p tty graft.
This may occur in connection with .lt
section ..oyidng FOR the employment
OF city laborers. The commits toner's
fare told TO gle aged men and men
lwi;h families the preference IN EN-.
ploying labOrers Now. I ar not say.
ing that any commissioner would do
any wrong ! this connection. but the
wording of the section certainly makes
II possible for BETTY graft 10 creep in.
In my opinion. while the charter
amendment, was undoubtedly framed
I'm good faith and conceived IN an UNI
biased pirlt. the provisions ! have
enumerated nullify the object sought
As 2 corrective measure II cannot
come up 20 all hat was expected OF IL.
Il is too late now to change f.: the
only thing To do 10 overcome the difi.
cuIties would he TO submit another
amendment to the people.