The Detroit times., 1911-09-13
CRISIS NEAR IN
BRICK SQUABBLE
Councils Ready To Act as Soon as
Hally Submits Opinion as To
Mayors Veto Power.

A crisis Is near In the brick situa-
ton. and IL all hinges on Corporation
Counsel Hally's forthcoming opinion
as to whether Mayor Thompson has
a right to veto bills for brick ordered
under contracts which the council has
affirmed and which he has himself
approved
The question was one of the FIRST
submitted TO Mr.. Hally on his return
from an extended vacation about
three weeks ago. II was expected
that he would have the opinion ready
for submission Tuesday night. but II
did not materfallze, and so the situa-
ton oldermen, Hally will be forced
to admit that the mayor has no right
TO veto the bills under the existing
circumstances anr they stand ready.
as soon as such an opinion Ia rem
dered, to release the bills that are
now held up and thus enable Public
Works Commissioner Haarer to pro-
coed with the paving that Ii being de-
layed.
The aldermen, however, will not
release the bills without the backing
OF the corporation counsel's opinion,
Tor they argue, that would put In the
mayors hands the finest kind OF q
campaign argument when he comes
up for reelection next fall.
The aldermen reason this way: The
brick specifications prepared by Com.
missioner Haarer last spring, and
made a part OF the contracts, were
approved by the council and the
mayor and must stand until new speci.
ications are submitted next year
These specifications do not call for
brick passing an abrasion test OF Fl
per cent, the standard fixed by the
mayor, nor has II been shown that
brick showing an abrasion of more
than 81 per cent Is necessarily poor
brick. Inasmuch as no standard OF
abrasion is fixed by the specifications,
the mayor. II is argued, has no right
TO hold up bills for brick furnished
under contracts he approved because
they show an abrasion OF more than
II per cent. The veto should have
been exercised, IL at all, when the
contracts were submitted. the alder
men contend, but now II Is too late, III
their opinion. and that opinion, they
assert. is backed up by supreme court
decisions.
Two brick resolutions we're intro
duced In the council meeting, Tues
day night. One was by Aid. Mason
and directed the corporation counsel
to institute such legal proceedings as
may be necessary to compel the Mas
sillon Brick Co. to furnish the differ
ence between the brick already sup
piled by them, about 10000 and the
900, 600 specified In it's contract The
resolution was referred to the com
mittee on streets without discussion.
The other resolution was by Aid,
Lynch, and II instructed the commits
sioner OF public works TO complete
every street paving job authorized py
the common council and board or esti
| mates with brick that will stand an
abrasion test of 21 per cent, the brick
to be purchased In the open market
n IL cannot be obtained from the man
ufacturers under contract TO the city
The resolution started lively de-
hate. and II was finally laid on the
table on motion of Aid. Heating.
Aid. Lynch caused q roar wheh ne
said:
THE commissioner Is appointed ano
gets a salary OF $4,000 year, ana we
paw him to look after sucn Things.
we aldermen are elected and II costs
us $4,000 or $4,000 to be elected /,
Just what connection all this mao
with the brick controversy was not
apparent. ..s -
The streets committee submitted no
report on brick, Assistant Corporation
Counsel Lawson having given the
committee an opinion that the coun'
ell had no power to compel the com
missioner OF public works to use any
sort of material 1t may designate Ioi
the paving OF a street. That was
wholly up to the commissioner ne
said $3.50. NJ
lawson was Of the opinion that the
commissioner could substitute CEDAR
block for brick with the consent OF
the contractor and the sanction OF tns
council. Aid. Gilman was deiegateu
70 take the matter up with the com
missioner and the contractor =, &c
rath. and unless the brick contro'
yersy Is settled within the next week,
the work will be resumed with CEDAR
block.