The Detroit times., 1913-05-05
WIN Go to the Voters as Alter.
native Proposal Along With
New Charter, Declares
President Dust
BURTON WOULD INCLUDE
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Thinks Provision Should Be
in Amended Document
Other Suggestions Made

tee of the charter commission again
took up the city ownership amend
nent, adopted by the people In the
last election, Ia its meeting, Saturday
morning., and began going through H.
section by section, suggesting pos
ssible action.
The sense OF the committee was
that the street railway commissioners
should be three In number. and that
they be pal salary Of not less than
$1,000 year.
Commissioner Burton found what
he considers q joker In Aid. Vernors
addition to Section Of the ordinance,
which reads: Nothing herein con-
tanned shall be 30 construed as to pre-
vent the city OF Detroit from making
. grant to private parties In relation
% said street car system beneath,
upon or above said streets"
ut seems to me that this clause
gives the council power to take mat
lers out Of the hands OF the street
railway commission and make such
agreements as 1t sees fit." said Mr..
! Burton.
The other members OF the commit
tee did noa seem to see such dan
rer. Aid. Vernon will be called be-
fore the committee to make an expla-
nation Of the meaning Of the clause.
Mr.. Burton wanted to substitute his
own proposal for q commission or
three or Ave men, with power to &C.
ouire, build and operate street rail-
ways and to hx rates Of fare until mu-
uicipal ownership is attained, In place
OF much OF the present amendment.
my object" he said, lis to strike
out matters of legislation that should
be left to the council. | don't want
TO see the people forced to amend
the charter whenever they see the
need Of q minor change In our street
railway government"
The other members of the commit.
tee, however. were In no haste TO
adopt Mr.. Burtons suggestion, prefer
ring to 60 over the ordinance care
fully before making any change OF
radical nature.
Before the meeting of the commits
oion. President Dust announced to the
Newspaper men that In his estimation
the voting down Of the commission
plan In Thursdays session does not
mean its utter defeat.
this talk of gang trying to de-
feat the will of the people Is non
sense" he said. II believe that the
people will be given an opportunity
by. this commission to express their
preference for or aversion to q COM
(. mission to express their preference
for or aversion to q commission form
OF government. | am In favor OF sub
hitting It as an alternative plan. at
h the same time that We submit the
amended charter, and | think that Is
what will be done"
The public lighting commission has
written to the charter board that the
present legislation governing 1t IL sat.
isfactory to the commission.
Another attempt will be made. Mon.
day. to change the hour Of meeting
OF the commission. Mr.. Szymanski
II In favor of IL o'clock or noon. and
introduced q resolution In the short
session of the board, Saturday, to re-
consider the vote by which 10 o'clock
\ was made the oficial hour.
In an informal discussion, after the
meeting. Commissioner Burton spoke
In fA<or of including woman suffrage
In the charter.
"The corporation counsers ONCE ap-
pears unfriendly to this commission
II don't know why" said Mr.. Bur-
ton. II would like to find out from
that once whether suffrage can be
included"
II understand that the laws pro-
vide that suffrage cannot be limited
by this commission. but nothing Is
said about our inability TO increase
IT," said Mr.. Ferris.
The objection was raised that the
inclusion OF equal suffrage might de-
feat the charter, but Mr.. Ferris said
he believed a radical charter would
carry.
The committee on elections VIII re-
port In favor Of holding an election In
the spring Of 1914 for city ofiicers who
will take their seats IN January. 1915.
30 that the term OF the present OF.
ficers will not be curtailed; that cleo.
tions be- held In the spring al four.
year intervals after 1914. and that Of.
nceys take their seats the first Mon
Aav In May.