The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-04
TRIES TO DRIVE
ElKHOFF FROM
CHARTER BOARD
Ahern, Disguised With the New
Members Reactionary Speech,
Moves to Declare Seat Vacant
ALLEGED TO HAVE CALLED
THE COMMISSION A JOKE
Matter Will Come to Vote in Day
or TwO-M. o. Bond Issue
Discussed

Commissioner Ahern. who on Mon.
day voted for Henry j. Eikhofr as
member OF the charter commission
70 success William T. Dust. andinf
himself disappointed by Mr.. EikhofY' :
reactionary statements, tried unsuc-
cessfully, Tuesday morning 10 have
Mr.. Eikhon unseated. The fight will
be continued Thursday or Friday
Mr. Eikhoff appeared In the city
clerks ONCE and was sworn in be.
fore the meeting OF the charter com.
mission. He took his seat soon after
roll call. and was appointed to the
committee places formerly held by
Mr.. DENLY, who gave them up on be-
coming president OF the board.
Mr. Ahern took the floor and re.
ferred to speech made by Mr.. Elk
hon, Monday evening. In a public
hearing OF the committee on elections.
In which Mr.. Eikhof Is said to have
called the commission a joke.
Il have been on this commission
since It's Inception" said Mr.. Ahern,
his eyes flashing. and don't believe
there Is single member who would
ssy that We have not done our duty.
Last night, Mr.. EikhofY made an as
sertion in which he called this com.
mission a joke. | do not believe that
q man who considers us a Joke ought
70 Sit on this commission. move
that the vote by which Mr.. EikhofY
was elected be reconsidered.
Mr.. Tossy, floor leader OF the reno
tionaries. made the point OF order that
b. as Mr.. Eikhoff had been sworn in and
had taken his seat. he could not be
unseated by reconsideration. Pres!.
dent DENLY ruled with Mr. Tossy.
Mr.. Eikhoff arose in his own de-
Tense.
The accusation Of Mr. Ahern is not
quite correct" he said. II did no,
refer TO the commission as a Joke.
said that many people of the city
thought that few changes should be
made In the charter, and that the old
charter should be submitted. with
these changes. | said that inasmuch
AZ the commission was attempting to
make other changes, many PEOPLE
think that IL is a joke | believe that
this Is an estimable commission. and
that II Is responsive TO the will OF the
people. n anyone has the impression
that said that the commission is a
joke, he is mistaken
II was present" said Mr.. Burton.
"and heard wha; vas said last night,
and was grieved and embarrassed Nv
II. II l thought that felt as Mr..
Nkhoh expressed himself about this
commission, | would remain of of IL.
II he considers 1t joke. he should not
be here. | didn't vote for him yester-
day, and ! surely would not again,
after his words OF last night
President Denbys gavel put stop
to the discussion. bur il was resum ed
toward the close OF the meeting. when
Mr.. Ahern. receiving unanimous con-
sent, introduced a resolution that MIR.
EikhOff's seat be declared vacant
The resolution is ont OF order"
roared Mr.. GutharG.
"On what grounds" asked Presi-
dent DENLY.
Il think It Is an insult" cried Mr..
Guthard. There are no Charges
against Mr.. Eikhoff." \
THE resolution will be received,
printed and laid on the table for
As hours, under the customary pro-
cedure.' President DENLY ruled. 1T
cannot be refused. having been in
IL move that consideration be in
definitely postponed, shouted Mr..
0uthard
1.-THE motion Is out OF order" was
the ruling
"Mr. Ahern is peeved at something
imaginary" Mr. Guthard pursued.
ut the top Of his voice. "He can't
come In here and try to expel u
member"
ANY member can introduce reso-
luton" President DENLY replied.
when IL comes up for consideration,
he must defend It, We must assume
that he has valid reason for attack
ing members right to seat, and
that he will give 1t when the time
comes"
Mr.. Tossy tried to continue the
fight, but the president recognized
q motion to adjourn, and II was car
ried, only Guthard, Tossy and Funk
voting against 1t.
While the motion was being put,
Mr.. Guthard continued his argu-
ment.
IF you want TO unseat member
for calling the commission a joke. you
can unseat me- call 1t a joke he
shouted, amid general laughter.
What did Mr.. Nkhon say? The
newspaper men who heard him. and
the progressive members OF the com
mission, agree that he called the com.
mission q joke. The reactionary Gle.
meut, and Mr.. EkhofY himself, insist
that be said nothing Of the kind. but
that some people think that the com
mission 10 a Joke.
The commission received the resig-
nation of Otto II. Dandell. member
from the Fifteenth ward, who has &C.
cspted q position in the park depart
ment. and laid IL on the table for "a
hours. BY rule Of the commission.
Thomas A. German. a Democratic, VIII
succeed Mr.. Dandell. Mr.. German Is
q molder. He received 664 votes 10
Mr.. Dandell's 1882. In the election
He Ia believed to be progressive, but
fears we're expressed that because or
his labor connections. Mr.. Tossy may
have some influence over him.
For nearly two hours. the commits
sion quizzed Corporation Counsel
Lawson. Mayor Marx. Allan II. Frazer,
his legal adviser, and George William
Moore. Fred A. Baker. attorney for
the d. U-R was present during the
early part of the discussion. but took
no part In Il. Alfred Eucking wrote
that he had TO be away from the city,
and could not accede In the commits