The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-13

In the municipal amendment sug-
gested by legal lexperts.
Corporation Counsel Lawson. Alfred
Lucking. who assisted In the draft OF
the proposed Lawson ordinance for
the settlement OF the street, car CUES
ton, and Allan II. Frazer. the mayors
special counsel. met In the mayors
once. Wednesday afternoon. to dis
cuss the proposed municipal owner
ship amendment.
I They were unanimous In decryine
the hasty methods necessary In pre-
pairing the amendment and agreed
that no lawyer would care to put his
reputation behind an O. X. OF the
amendment after only few days
study m.
This proposition requires at least
a months study" remarked Alfred
Lucking.
'sYes, and three months study
would not be too much" added Spe-
cial Counsel Frazer, who admitted
that his acquaintance with the pro-
posed amendment was very recent,
After discussing several sections OF
tthe-ameHdmeHt= with the corporation
counsel, Messrs. Lucking and Frazer
announced that they would spend
most OF the night studying the
amendment in conjunction with the
home rule bill and continue the legal
conference in Corporation Counsel
Lawson's once, Thursday morning.
| 1t was first proposed that the morn
ing conference be held in the mayors
ioffice, but LAWSON objected.
III you want to meet with me. you
will have to meet In my ofice," he
told the other advisers. alaO suggest
ing that the meeting be behind locked
doors 50 that the deliberations OF the
lawyers on sucn q weighty matter
would not be disturbed.
In discussing the charter amend
lment the lawyers voiced objections
ito the section giving the railway COM
missioner to be appointed by the
mayor practically unchecked control
OF the $4,000, 900 bond issue and all
he railway receipts.
The people won't stand for put
ting $10.000.000 in any one mans
hand without some check on the ex-
lpenditures." remarked Allan Frazer.
The draft OF the amendment gives
the railway commissioner almost un-
limited power and does not require
him to give q bond. In making the
ailway commissioner all-powerfui the
council committee on charter and city
legislation, responsible for the pres
ent draft OF the charter amendment,
acted on the advice of Peter Witt. the
Cleveland railway expert.
Instead OF making all moneys pa,-
able to the commissioner the amend
ment will probably be changed to
place all railway funds In the hands
Of the city treasurer to be paid on
vouchers signed by the commissioners
and his secretary and approved by
the city controller. 1t will be neces-
sary to add separate department to
the city treasurer's ONCE nnd prob
ably to the controllers ONCE to
handle the street railway funds.
Corporation Counsel Lawson raised
objection to Section s. which does
not require the consent of the people
on any proposal to construct a new
street ear line, other than Is contain
ed In the three-fifths' vote in favor
OF the proposed charter amendment.
lawson contended that under the
Verdier bill a proposal to build would
require the separate approval Of the
people.
LAS that charter amendment now
stands l do not think 1t will get %
per cent. of the VOTE" said Lawson,
In speaking Of its hasty preparation.
| At the close Of the meeting. Law
son made reference to his proposed
ordinance which provides for q day
to-day agreement with the d. o. r.,
the city reserving to Itself the right
to purchase at any time.
What Is goin to be done with that
ordinance? Where IS II now" asked
the corporation counsel. but he re-
ceived no answer to his questions.
The ordinance Is still In the hands Of
the committee on franchises.