The Detroit times., 1910-09-28
VERNON BILL HAS IT
|. ALL OVER Gilman
MEASURE
Former Is Laid Upon Broad Lines
and Aims at Real Civil Service,
While the Other Is Narrow
and Partisan.
Fear Expressed That Submission Of
the Two at Same Time Will Result
In Defeat of Both.

AIT Is pretty well established that
the voters of Detroit are in favor OF
municipal civil service. but 1t is not
half 30 we'll established that they Will
be able TO get II this fall, notwith-
standing the fact that two measures
providing for civil service will be
submitted to them at the election.
In the opinion of those most interest
| ed, both measures will fail to carry
because the vote will be divided be-
tween them.
There is a widespread impression
that a three-fifths affirmative vote is
necessary TO pass a charter amend
ment under the new home rule law.
This Is an error, simple majority
Of the votes cast, being all that 10 re-
SAuired II both measures carry. II
would then be up to the courts TO de-
eide which was law. and It would be
likely to result In both being thrown
out and a new election ordered.
One OF the chief differences In the
measures Is as TO the proper officer
to cast the deciding vote in case the
civil service commission becomes
deadlocked. The Vernon bill. which
was rejected by the council. and is
submitted TO the people on petition
which had over $4,000 signatures,
provides that the mayor shall have
the casting vote, and the Gilman
measure, which is offered as a substs-
tute. by the council. provides that the
president of the council shall have
this authority.
There ar etwo facts that bear upon
this difference. The first Is that the
mayor Is sometimes Republican and
sometimes a Democrat. The second
Is that the president OF the council
has not been a Democrat Tor 10,
these many years. As both bills pro-
vide for non-partisan board--two
Republicans and Two Democratic
|ts the political faith OF the fifth mefn-
der that Ia really important, giving
the political, color TO the board and
esta blishing to some extent, az least.
lhe political complexion Of the civil
bervice. The Gilman bill establishes
lt rs Republican. while the Vernon
.bill gives the long neglected Demo
crat a chance.
The other point which has been pre-
scented to the voters as being the
most important difference, but Is
really merely a minor complication
Tor the purpose of befogging the main
Issue. is the question Of including Ia
borers under the provisions Of the
civil service system. The Vernon Dill
brovides that laborers should nile APP
OBLIGATIONS with the commission show
Ling their fitness 10 earn their wages
lust az other city employees will be
compelled to do. AS department.
heads require, laborers would be Sc
hected from this list, and there would
|thus be a check on the number OF men
hired and the commission would be
able to certify to the payroils. Fad
ding the payrolls Is one OF the abuses
which the civil service Dill is ex'
kpected to render impossible. Ihere
lis no intention that the laborer snail
be required to pass an examination In
organic chemistry or political econ
omy to get a Job, although this Is an
Impression that the opponents OF the
yernor measure are trying to create.
The Gilman bill excludes the Ia
|borers from the civil service pro-
Visions. and allows them to be hired
.by the department heads, as at
present.
The Vernon bill also provides for
the appointment OF chief examiner
n accordance with the provisions OF
khe act and makes him subject 10
strict supervision ythe commission
he Is also to act as secretary OF the
hoard. The Gilman bill provides Tor
IA secretary. who 10 TO be appointed
|by the commission, but is exempt
IRON examinations as confidential
|ofYicer. II Is probable that he Is In
ended to be chief examiner as well.