The Detroit times., 1913-05-16
ELECTION OF COUNCIL AT
LARGE LOSES BY VOTE OF
llT09M CHARTER BOARD

OOV,OVO, l DeileVe-nas TOUR NEIL III
control. have taken pains to learn
the sentiment OF the people OF my
ward. and with the exception OF the
politicians, l have failed to find one
who is not In favor Of electing the
council at large. | know II to be a
fact that pne alderman, under the
ward system, trades with another, and
that the aldermen boast OF how much
they have been able to get for their
particular wards
Commissioners Guthard and Wesch
spoke against the resolution. Mr..
Burch said that the people OF the Six
teenth ward want one alderman from
each ward. Commissioner Burton
spoke for q council elected at large,
SO that It's members would be well
known from Fox creek to the Rouge,
and from the Detroit river to Monte
rey alley"
II was In the constitutional conven-
ton with Mr.. Tossy," said Mr..
Ingram. Whenever anything good
was called to our attention, the cry
was always raised that the constitu-
ton would be defeated II we included
IL. But We found that the only OBJ
lection the people had to our work
was that we had not included inno-
vations enough. Don't be slow to
trust the people. and don't underrate
their intelligence.
This city is now run by few
men, and it always will be. Is 1t not
better to elect few men who will
have seats in the council than to have
the city run by few, some OF whom
are In no Official capacity?
President Dust took the floor, and
those whose ears had become red and
strained In listening for word OF
command took charge.
Many things may be said in favor
of Capitalization OF power in the
hands Of a small board Of aldermen"
said Mr.. Dust. But one OF the main
things to be kept In mind Is the sue.
cess Of our charter. l claim to be as
close to the people Of Detroit as any
one, and don't know what they want
In this matter. l feel that the thing
to do Is to put as few innovations in
the charter as are necessary. In years
past. We had an upper house In De-
troit. OF which / was member, and
the people legislated II out Of exist
ence. though II was elected at large.
There is no guarantee that smaller
body of men will give us better gov.
ernment. 1t would be less difflcult.
for instance, for a corporation to get
control Of f1ve-ninths Of small body
than 20-36 Of large one.
Some of you are inconsistent.
Some who now desire a Capitalization
OF power are those who, when the
street railway commission was up for
discussion, wanted power distributed.
Why do you want to scatter power In
the one instance, and centralize II IN
the other?
Il cannot vote for the resolution In
its present form, but II 1t were chang
ed to provide for nominations by
wards and elections by the city as
a. whole, l would be favorable to the
proposal
Mr.. Funk, now had courage TO
speak
II represent the Seventh ward" he
said We're here to represent our
wards. went through the Fifth,
Seventh and Ninth wards yesterday,
and the sentiment there Is in favor
Of the election of aldermen by wards,
and they want two OF EN-, too. Mr..
DENLY said that we can't get good
men under the present system--
Il never said anything of the kind,
or anything that could be construed
In that way" Mr.. DENLY interrupted
but | defy you to pick out any
men In the present council who are
not competent" continued Mr.. Funk,
and it is getting better every day.
There were several whistles OF
amazement from various parts OF the
room.
II am In favor of many improve.
ments." President Dust began.
I'VE haven't made any, so far" Mr..
Merrell interrupted.
but ! am not In favor of 60
ing too far" Mr.. Dust concluded.
Mr.. Guthard stated that he would
favor the election of p aldermen at
large, provided they were nominated
by wards.
II want to pick them out. just as
did the members Of the legisla
ture." he said. And | had a hell OF
a time doing It, he added, soto voce
Mr. Burch tried to have such an
amendment made to the resolution.
1t was declared out of order. Mr.
Ingram had the final word:
Such a scheme Is not recognized
by any student OF city government"
he said. Under 1t, the aldermen
would not be responsible to anybody
The present system Is the ridicule OF
all who have studied the city gov
ernments OF foreign nations. Under
the system of nominations by wards,
group OF politicians could control
the nominations In each ward. and
the citizens at large ccn.d- ia nothing
but vote for the men selected by the
politicians In control, by the organ.
izations that would be quickly
formed"
The vote was then taken. and the
commission adjourned.
Two communications pleading for
q small council were received, early