The Detroit times., 1913-05-08
SEE BLOW AT
WARD SYSTEM IN
FERRIS SCHEME
ReactiOnaries Refuse People OPP
pOrtunity to Witness Work.
ings of Preferential Ballot
M. O. COMMITTEE MAKES
MANY SUGGESTIONS
Board Receives List Of Proposed
Radical Changes in
Charter

4hC iCuCtiOutAi Cp dA0Oh8 lA0 CuoA-
ter commissioners again showed their
hand. Wednesday morning. when they
defeated q proposal OF Commissioner
Ferris to give the people Of Detroit
IN opportunity to see how the prefer
entail ballot works.
Mr.. Ferris proposed several days
ago that ballots be printed In the
newspapers OF Detroit, by which the
people could indicate their Arst, Sec
ond. third, etc, choices on fictitious
ticket, containing names OF people
outside Detroit and Michigan who
might be supposed to be running for
positions on the board elected at large.
He explained carefully TO the commits
sion that the names would have no
local application; that the board. by
adopting his suggestion. would not
commit itself to the preferential bal
lot, but would merely give the people
IN opportunity OF seeing how il
works; and that the entire affair
would not only be educational In its
effect, but might give the commission
q line on whether the people want q
preferential vote instead IF the pres
ent system
But those commi SIS toner's who are
opposed TO a change which will give
the city number OF aldermen-at-
large took fright They raised the OBJ
lection that the newspapers would
charge and charge heavily for print
ing the ballots. or that they would
refuse to take part In the election.
They protested against straw
vote"-though Mr.. Ferris replied that
insofar as indicating preference
for any Detroiter above another was
- -
The vote stood:
For the Ferris proposal, Commits.
Sioners Ahern, Burton. Campbell,
DENLY, Ferris. Ingram, Merrell. wre-
ford
Against It Commissioners Burch,
pandell, Fischer, Funk, Guthard,
Hacker, Joy, Heating, Kocher, Sly
manski. Tossy, Wesch and President
Dust.
Several Of the members explained.
after the meeting, that they do not
want any other system than ward rep
resentation, and that they will fight
any movement that threatens to sup
plant IT,
Commissioner Ferris has not given
mp the fight, and says that the matter
will undoubtedly be brought before
the commission again In few days.
In the meantime he will try TO secure
outside cooperation.
The executive committee OF the
Citizens Municipal Ownership league
nled Its recommendations for charter
changes with the commission. We'd !
nesday II asks that the ward boun- |
daries be abolished; that the mayor.
common council and judicial officers |
be elected by the preferential ballot;
that they take once in 1915. and hold !
until May, 1)1S--the elections coming |
every four years, starting with April |
1914; that the heads OF departments |
be appointed by the mayor. and be re. |
movable for cause that these depart !
ment heads constitute an administra- |
tive council. to which the estimates,
drawn up by each department head. |
be submitted for revision; that from |
the administrative council the budget |
pass to the common council, which |
shall have the power TO make reduc- |
lions, but which may not add to any |
item. The salary OF the mayor Is pro- |
posed at $4,000. other salaries to be |
nxed by the council; The constables |
and clerks of the city courts. It IL |
proposed, shall be appointed by the |
courts themselves.
The self-sustaining departments. |
such as the water board and the
street railway commission, are to be |
governed by boards Of three or Ave
members, elected by the people on |
preferential ballot. Their salaries are |
nxed at not less than $1,000 a year. |
The initiative. referendum and recall
are demanded.
The recommendations were referred |
boundaries, registration and election. !
and charter and amendments, consist |
ing OF Commissioners Burton, Fisher, |
HACKER, Campbell, Ferris. Ingram. |
Guthard and Merrell.
Commissioner Kocher introduced |
. proposal providing that any candi- |
date for ONCE who buys beer or
spends money In treating his friends.
ostensibly to win their votes.
be DISQUALIFIED, and that the mayor |
have power to appoint his successor
on the ticket. II was referred TO the
committee on elections.
A letter was received from Bird =.
Coler, of New York, advising that the
commission, before adopting q mum.
cipal ownership amendment, secure
the advice OF an expert like Judge
John F. Dillon, to pass on the phrase.
ology OF the provision. The letter was
placed on file.
The committee on finance and taxes
0rsanixed. Wednesday, and will hold
sessions with Controller Heineman
during the week The municipal
Ownership committee il meeting Wed
tuesday afternoon to continue It's work.
Liquor Forces Hold Lincoln.