The Detroit times., 1912-11-30
TO NAME CHARTER BOARD
IN SPRING ELECTION
tcoatinued from Page one,

4
/ from each ward and threeat-large.
making a commission of 21 men. Each
commissioner will DE paid s. for each
day the commission is in session, bnt
! they will be paid for only 80 days.
There was nothing before the COM
mittee to act Gu with reference TO
| piecemeal amendment. although II was
the consensus of opinion that piece
meal amendments providing for NUM-
cipal ownership, increase in bonding
limit and civil service. be submitted
| at The earliest possible opportunity.
Mr. Lawson informed the committee
that he has already taken steps TO
draft The necessary amendment TO the
bone rule act to put into effect the
constitutional amendment voted by
the people OF the state. This amend
ment will be submitted TO the counciI
as soon as drafted and will be intro
duced in the legislature as soon as the
legislature convenes, Jan. :. The Leg
islature will be asked to give ii imme-
date effect Then amendments to
! the present city charter may be sub
! nitted at anv of the regular election
| days
II Is not considered probable by the
city officials that the proposition will
be acted on In time to permit OF the
submission OF an amendment on en-
-ollment day. Jan. %. but they believe
that an amendment or amendments
can be submitted on March 6. primary
day Thus the city can be empowered
TO own and operate Its street car sys-
tem IL the people so vote by March b.
The commissioners elected To revise
the city charter. can draw pay until
July 1. There is no election in the
fall OF 1913. and, consequently. a spe-
cial election will have to be held to
reject or adopt the revised charter.
McCarty. while not member OF the
council committee, attended the meet
ing. and when Chairman Lodge asked
whether IL was the duty OF the council
to order an election he Immediately
launched into a vigorous defense OF
his proposition
Now. what I would like to know
is whether IL Is compulsory on the
part OF the council TO revise the char
ter" said Mr.. Lodge.
"Of course, II is" chimed In Aid.
Tossy Didn't the people vote for IL?
think II is our duty. only ] believe
we should elect the commissioners In
the regular spring election
Mr.. lawson was then called on and
expressed his opinion that IL is man
datory for the council TO provide for a
revision OF the charter in compliance
with the referendum vote on the sub
ject Discussion then centered upon
the meaning OF the phrase within a
reasonable time contained in the
home rule act Lawson said that the
supreme court had ordered the Adrian
council TO call an election for charter
commissioners within 60 days after
the people had voted to revise the city
charter
My views OF this subject are that
We ought TO take advantage OF the
constitutional amendment and submit
amendments TO our present charter
and at the same time proceed to re-
wise or charter said Aid. Vernon.
Yes said Tossy. IF we depend
/ On piecemeal amendments TO get
new charter IL will take us 100
years"
IL wouldn't take me that long"
smiled Vernon. Personally. ! don't
see any necessity for general re-
vision OF the charter
But there Is nothing else 10 do in
the face OF the court decision in the
Adrian case" suggested Lodge.
Mcearty then said that he had
merely inserted the dates ina his reso-
Tuition to get something before. ne
lcommittee, and that he would not
lob1ect Y the committee provided for
the election OF commissioners on he
regular spring election day
The principal thing Is To revise
the charter" he said
ITO great majority OF the peo-
lple charter revision and municipal
ownership vera synonymous said