The Detroit times., 1913-07-04
REACTIONARIES GAIN
TEMPORARY CONTROL; KILL
ELECTION LAW REFORMS

mission control over the filling OF
vacancies and his motion prevailed.
Funk moved 20 strike ont the pro-
vision that all candidates for election
Inspector he required TO pass a civil
service examination and that was
passed.
President DENLY then moved TO
adopt the old charter provisions and
this was agreed TO.
The commissioners lined UP on
votes as follows: For election reforms
DENLY, Ingram. Broadway. Burch.
Burton. Wreford, Merrell and Ferris.
s.
Against election demonstrating
Guthard. Szymanski. Ahern. German.
JOY. Funk, Wesch, Tossy. Hacker,
Kocher. Eikhoff and Fscher--i3.
AS representative of the small
council" plan of government, Council
man w c. wilkins. OF Pittsburgh,
addressed the charter commission dur
ing the morning. and as soon as he
had finished several members of the
minority, including Guthard, Tossy
Efkhoff and Funk heckled. questioned
and threw discourteous remarks at
him until Commissioner DENLY arose
and suggested that the commission
go ahead with its regular business.
Mr. Wilkins told of the former re-
gime in Pittsburgh, when there were
1857 members OF the board Of alder
men. later only 81. and of a special
act reducing the number 10 nine elect
ed at large.
The first nine were appointed by
the governor" said Mr. wilkins. six
months later, when they came up for
nomination. there were three tickets
In the field, and after the primaries
ready appointed were on every party
ticket without exception.
we are not merely executive ON
GERS. like the commissioners under a
commission form of government. We
act in all ways just like any other city
council, but we are so few that re-
sponsibility is easily fixed and we try
/ to act in every way as do the direc-
| tors OF a big corporation In running a
city's business.
"The ward politicians do not want
small council They didn't want II
in Pittsburgh. but the people wanted
II and they got it.
81 am a former resident OF Detroit,
myself | saw the cornerstone OF the
! city hall laid. | saw the first paving
that was ever done here. and | saw
the first street car on the streets. AS
an old Detroiter | hope the city will
not fail to adopt the alternative propo-
| sition 10 have a council of nine men
elected at large
| As he sat down Guthard. Eikhon
and others jumped TO their feet.
MY brother-in-law is manager OF
foundry in Pittsburgh" said Eikho1.
and he tells me the Capitalization
of power there is so bad that every.
body is turning socialist"
do YOU claim you didn't play poll
tics and were strictly non-partisan
when YOU used advertisements to put
yourselves back into office after you
weya appointed" shouted Guthard.
What chance had poor man against
pool OF office-holders drawing $500
a year,
I'VE advertised. certainly" replied
, Mr. wilkins, good.naturedly, but we
spent nothing for votes or for partf
san support. We bought no beer or
whisky or cigars--we merely went be
fore the people
"Oh, | see" said Tossy You just
settled with the newspapers instead
OF with the saloon keepers.
After Mr.. DENLY had ended the acrl-
monious questioning by insisting upon
! the regular order of business, Mr.. Ing
ram moved a vote Of thanks TO the
visitor.