The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-05
AID. VERNON TO ASK
COURT TO ORDER VOTE
Continued from Page One.


other words, the application for n
mandamus will raise the question OF
the city's right to make piecemeal
amendments to the charter as pro-
vided for in the amended home rule
bill.
Corporation Counsel Lawson. in the
meeting OF the election commission.
expressed the opinion that the city
cannot amend its charter and that.
as a matter OF fact, II now has no
charter to amend under his inter.
probation OF the home rule bill X
the city wishes TO make any construo-
tive progress. a general charter re.
vision will be necessary he declared.
According to this ruling, the city
would be absolutely powerless TO ex.
ercise Its option under the Thomps
son franchise until the charter Is
revised. and this work would take
year at the least calculation. IL the
supreme court were to take the same
view, Mayor Thompson's contention
that his plap is nothing more than
six months franchise, goes glimmer-
ing. Thus one OF the mayors prin-
Cipal arguments Is Knocked into
cooked hat by hiE own appointe. who
is counted as staunch supporter or
the mayor.
In this connection another legal
question that has been previously
raised comes to the fore again. That
is Is an agreement giving the city
tthe right 10 purchase the street car
lines legal II. at the time OF the agree.
ment is made, the city has no author
! ity TO own and operate street cars?
Judge Hally has said that this point Is
covered In the ordinance and that the
option clause is perfectly legal in this
respect. but that is only one mans
opinion. II Is Just possible that the
courts might hold differently II the
| right were questioned.
City Clerk Charles A. Nichols.
chairman OF the city election commits
sion. was the only member OF IL TO
argue for the submission Of civil SER
vice on the same ballot with y the
Gilman and Thompson measures. the
other two members, City treasure
Max Koch and Corporation Counsel
Lawson being lined up against him.
Nichols took the stand that neither
the common council nor the election
commission had the power TO prevent
the civil service amendment from go
ing on the ballot. The amendment
had been passed by the council and
| by that body ordered submitted TO the
people at the ''hrst special or general
election" The bill had been approved
! by the governor and he contended that
II was mandatory on the election COM
mission. under section II OF the home
rule bill, to submit the measure in the
coming election
Corporation Counsel lawson then
came forward with the astonishing
opinion that the Hally amendment to
the home rule BILL providing for piece
meal amendments to the charter, Is
unconstitutional After lengthy dis
cussion, City Treasurer Koch moved
that the two street car propositions
alone be placed on the ballot and the
motion was carried by the votes OF
Mr.. Koch and Mr. lawson, Mr..
Nichols alone voting no"
! sThe commission voted to ask for
bids for printing the ballots.
In order TO place the Vernon PROPOSE
ton on the ballot, the mission will
have to know the decision OF the SUI
preme court by Jan. Is.
City Treasurer Koch explained after
the meeting that his action did not
mean that he was opposed to civil SER
vice. and he offered to give $50 as a
| nucleus for a fund TO take the matter
to- the supreme court.
Throughout this agitation over the
| civil service measure, the Municipal
League, which has always been an en-.
thusiastic advocate Of civil service.
has been silent and this fact has
caused no little comment Aid. Yer.
nor says he tried 10 interest the league
In an effort to have his bill submitted
in the coming election but without re-
suit
1T looks as though politics have
crept into the Municipal League" said
| the alderman