The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-19
LUCKINC AND
DUST DIFFER
ON M. 0. PLAN
Former Still Strongly Opposed
to Single Headed Commission,
i While Latter Argues For Ii
ATTORNEY REPLIES
TO TINES EDITORIAL
Takes Issue With Paper ON Les.
sons to Be Drawn From
Galveston's Experience

Speaking Of The Times editorial or
last Saturday In favor Of a one-man
board of control over the street rail
ways. under municipal ownership, In
stead of the three-man system, Alfred
Lucking said: Il have read the article
with interest. and It is curious to see
how honest folk, wishing TO reach the
same end. may differ 30 radically.
advised the council that 1t was the
most vicious policy to entrust 30
much power. and the decision OF 80
many important policies TO one man,
while The Times says one-man
board II essential to the success OF
the enterprise.
II understand The Times to favor
the one-man power, ~ It was defined
in the ordinance. and this 10 what we
are talking about. not about the man
agement Of railway already owned
by the CITY. 1t may be years before
we have any railway to operate, but
this ordinance proposed TO confer
upon one man immense powers and
way, the handling Of enormous sums
OF money. the adoption Of plans for
providing q transportation system for
this great city and the carrying out
of those plans, a. we'll AZ the opera
ton OF the system after 1t should be
secured. together with the handling
and spending Of millions OF income
from operation.
81 say such powers we're never con.
feTred upon one man In the history
OF this country, or by any city within
It's boundaries, or by any corporation,
public or private. I say. furthermore.
there Is not the slightest foundation
for an argument In favor OF the grant
ing Of any such powers by the
example OF any other city in the
United States or Europe, or by any
business enterprise, bank, railroad or
company OF any kind whatever, with
in the borders Of civilization.
Discusses Galveston Case.
The principal argument made by
The Times Is based upon the example
OF Galveston and the cities adopting
the general features OF the Galveston
government. The learned editor says:
Not one OF these cities has gone back
TO the old way OF divided authority
and responsibility
THE Times is wholly and utterly
mistaken as TO the Galveston plan.
and the plan of all other cities follow
ing II. They do not rest any I'm
portant power in one man. All power
Is vested In the commission, consist
ing Of Ave men; that is why It is
called the commission plan OF gov
eminent. 1t Is because the powers
usually lodged In the common council
and In all the executive officers are
consolidated In the hands Of the COM
mission.
The individual commissioners are
assigned different positions In the
government, but they are simply
agents under the direct and constant
control and supervision of the COM
mission. which sitss every week and
passes upon all acts OF any i'm
portance, and even makes all the ap-
pointments to office.
mo commissioner has any power
not under direct aontrol Of the
board Everything Of any Importance
whatever Is done by the board Of five
men, and not by any one man. The
individuals are simply superinten-
dents. very limited In powers.
y have before me now the law OF
Texas, Special Laws Of Texas OF 1908,
pages 262 to 3O4. There Is not one
line In the whole AZ pages which sup
ports the claim that one-man board
Is given any power whatever. Fifty
different paragraphs declare the su-
preme power of the board Of five men
over every subject. large and small.
Section IL In few lines pronounces
the general scheme In this behalf,
which is outlined In full detail in 80
other paragraphs. Section IL is Said
board OF commissioners (the mayor
and four associates), shall have con-
troll and supervision over all the de.
partments Of said city, and to that
end, shall have power to make and
enforce such rules and regulations
as they may see At. for and concern
| ng the management and operation OF
the organization and all the depart
ments Of said city and whatever
agency may be created for the ad.
ministration of Its affairs"
Must Audit Claims.
"The individual commissioner are
designated as having simply super
vision in the separate departments
No one can even pay small claim
against his own department without
1t is audited by at least two members
OF the board.
3 "The entire act teens with pro.
visions showing that the individual
has no power whatever, except as
given TO him by the Soard. and that
1t may be taken away at any meet
ing and that every act is subject &c
the supervision Of the board.
IL repeat the Galveston plan Is q
five-man commission plan, with al
power vested In the board. as such
and no final power lodged in one man
except as the five may intrust II t6
him from week TO week
This plan only bears out universe
business practice. Every large bust
ness house is managed by board o.
from three to 10 or 10 members
every bank, every railway. every In
surance company or enterprise OF any
Importance whatever.
But is argued by the respected
editor Detroit would not today sane
ton return to a thIee-man publi'
works commission, q three.man parl
commission or a three-man police
commission
} II could just as well say Detroi
would not sanction . one.man waite
commission, or one-man nghtinl
| commission, but neither statement u