The Detroit times., 1911-02-03
SPECIAL ACT ONLY
ON b0NO|NG LIMIT
Other Charter Changes Likely To
Come Through Amendment To
Hally Home Rule Bill.

When the common council meets
for an informal session or conference.
Saturday morning, at 1880, II Is ex-
pected that the aldermen will agree
on a definite plan OF action looking
toward the adoption OF urgent meas
ures affecting the city of Detroit by
the people as well as by the legisla-
ture. While many OF the aldermen
are inclined to favor q general char
ter revision, II Is generally conceded
that such urgent measures as tne
civil service bill and the municipai
ownership amendment, for instance,
should not be held up pending this
revision, which would require year
at least.
1t Is doubtful, however, II the plan
to secure the restoration OF civil SER
vice by special act OF the legislature
will be carried out. There Is grave
doubt, Corporation Counsel Hally now
says. whether these acts would De
constitutional Under the new con-
stitution, the legislature can pass spe-
cial acts, affecting a single city or
community, only when general act
would not apply, and the question as
to whether a general act would apply
is left to the Judiciary. Thus, IL the
legislature were TO pass civil SER
vice bill for Detroit only, the question
would arise whether such an act
would not be applicable to every city
on the state. This would afford an
opportunity to anyone SO disposed TO
take the matter into the courts, with
possibility that the act might be held
unconstitutional This would mean
starting all over again. The same Is
true of the municipal ownership ques-
ton
But Mr.. Hally can see nothing to
prevent the passage OF special act
raising Detroit's bonding limit from
2 to per cent. Such a bill has al
ready been prepared, as stated In The
Times, Thursday, and will unquestion-
ably be presented to the legislature
next week. II Is even considered pos
sible to give the bill immediate effect,
SO that II may be voted on by the peo-
pie In the coming spring election, for
all special acts require referendum.
As to the other important measures,
the plan that seems to meet the ap-
proval of most of the aldermen, Is TO
secure, II possible, an amendment to
the Hally home rule biI1 10 permit
the city to amend it's present charter,
without waiting for general revision
This Is the quickest course and thers
are no legal obstacles in the way as
far as any one mas been able to see.
This plan also meets with the approv-
al OF Mayor Thompson.
LET us get these needed amend
ments I'm the quickest legal way pos
sible,' said the mayor, Friday noon
"Off-hand, / should say that the best
way to go about IL would be to amend
the home rule bill. That will give
Detroit and every other Michigan
city for that matter, an opportunity
to decide for itself between general
revision or amending its old charter.
| believe that our old charter, in the
main, Is all right. and II would seem
that We could accomplish all that Is
desired, for the present, at least, with
out a general revision. II this Is
found desirable later, there Is nothing
to prevent Its being done, but think
the people should have the right to
amend their old charter IL they see
fit."
There is a possibility, II the civil
service amendment Is submitted again,
that the Vernon bill, which was knock
out by the supreme courts decision
in the municipal ownership case, will
be revised. In the opinion OF the cor
poration counsel, Its scope Is very
limited, and II does not apply to the
police and fire departments, the pub
lie lighting commission, the health
board, the library commission, the
recorders court or the police court.
There are other defects OF legal ma
ture which will have to be corrected
also.