The Detroit times., 1912-02-05
QUESTION OF REVISING
CHARTER TO Be SUBMITTED
TO VOTE JUNE THIRTEEN
Commissioners viii Be Chosen
at Same Time; Partisan Pri-
mary For Nominations
ELECTION NON-PARTISAN
First Date Selected Was in
April But Law Makes
Change Necessary
ELECTION NoN-PARTIsAN

June IL is the date agreed upon by
the common council COMMITTEES on
city and charter legislation for the
submission TO the people Of the ques-
ton OF a general charter revision and
the election OF charter commissioners.
Inc primary for the nomination or
commissioners will be held June 3,
and, Saturday, June 8, will be set
apart as registration day.
These dates were fixed, Monday
noon, after long and earnest discus
sion as TO legal limitations, and while
the committee was desirous OF hold
Ing the election In April, as original
~ planned, II possible, serious diff
hculties presented themselves.
TO begin with, Corporation Counsel
Lawson gave an opinion that the
primaries for the nomination of com
missioners would necessarily have to
be partisan, Notwithstanding the fact
that they are elected on a non-par-
tisan ballot. They could be nominal
ed bv filing petition signed By two
/ per cent OF the electors voting for
secretary of state In the last preced-
ing state election. by paying a fee OF
one-half or one per cent OF the com
pensation each was to receive, which
would amount to $2.25, or they could
organize a new party and secure 20
signatures TO the nominating petition.
In ether words, the general primary
law must be followed.
But is was In the matter OF enroll
ment that the difficulties arose. Only
enrolled voters may vote I'm a primary.
and the next general enrolment day
Is April /. Or voters may go To the
city clerks Office and enroll at any
time up to April, by fling an afidavit.
but IL they choose this method they
cannot participate in any primary
election until SO days after the date OF
enrolment. If the election were held
| in April, 1t would shut out those who
enrolled In the city clerks Office after
!, Feb. 1, and would give each man shut
out an opportunity to contest the
validity of the special election In the
courts.
Aid. Gilman moved that the primary
be held April s, and the election April
IS, which would take care ,of all fbore
who have enrolled with the city clerk
up to date, about 200, or would en-
roll within the next three days. IL
was suggested in this connection that
the city clerk could warn all who
came In after that date that they
could not vote at the primary II they
enrolled in this manner Aid. Lodge,
chairman of the committee, warned
against any action that would inter-
fere with the enrolment in the city
clerks Office. and Corporation Counsel
lawson advised that the only safe
way would be TO put the election over
so as TO allow every man who had
enrolled an opportunity to participate.
Accordingly, Aid. Gilman withdrew
his motion and, on motion Of Aid
Vernon, the committee unanimously
decided on the dates already given.
which will undoubtedly meet the
sanction Of the council. Tuesday night.
Police Justice Jeffries came over
from police court at the noon hour to
take a hand In the discussion IN the
hope Of making the original date stick.
but the law on the proposition seemed
to be quite e=elears---------- -------A---'-------