The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-31
MR.. VOTER, HAVE
YOU READ THOSE
IL AMENDMENTS?


tcsati.ued frea page oneD.
4 twothirds vote would be necessary
to decide IL.
The amendments have been SO sim
plified. in the form In which they ap-
pear on the ballot. that the questions
do not give comprehensive idea OF
the amendment. the purpose being to
avoid confusion In clearly setting
forth the question.
The first amendment appears on
the ballot in this form: do you
favor the establishment OF a commits
sion to be known as The Recreation
Commission OF the City OF Detroit!
The amendment. the fate OF which
depends on the vote on that question:
provides mat the recreation commis'
sion shall consist OF 10 members, the
mayor to appoint i've citizens, ano
the other members to be the super
intendent of schools. park commits
sioner, city librarian. police commits
sioner and commissioner OF puphc
works. They will manage. direct
and care for Fairgrounds. playhelds
indoor recreation centers, gymnasi
ums, public baths, and debating clubs
and shall make inspections OF all the
aters, moving picture shows, poo
and billiard rooms. bowling alleys
and other commercial recreation
places which are licensed by the city
but their work will not In any way
abridge the powers OF the police anc
fire departments. building inspectors
and health board. In their work con
nected with such institutions.
The second amendment appears CT
the ballot in this form:
do you favor authorizing the com
mon council to Ak the compensation
Of certain elective and appointive Of
hcers OF the city Of Detroit within
certain limitations; also to tx thu
compensation of subordinates TO such
ofYicials?"
The amendment provides that tn,
salary Of the mayor may be raised 4
a sum not to exceed $4,000 per year
the corporation counsel. $500: the
commissioner Of public works, $500
the city clerk, $1,000: the city treas
urer, $4,000: the city controller. IS.
600; the police commissioner. $4,000
and the park commissioner, $4,000
the recorder and associate judge o
the recorders court. $500. as thu
city's share OF the salary. All subor
dinates to such officials and all othel
appointive officers shall receive sucl
salaries as the council, from time Il
time, may prescribe. but II Is providet
that no oficial shall have his com
pensation increased during the tern
for which he was elected or appoint
ed.
The third amendment appears OF
the ballot In this form:
Shall all bonds hereafter issued
for the payment of which the City o
Detroit 10 obligated. bear interest a
q rate not exceeding ave per cent pc
annum?"
The present interest paid by De
troit on its bonds il four per cent
and 1t is contended that q Ave pc
cent rate would make the bonds NOR
desirable, and permit Of disposing o
bond Issues quickly. The charte
provides that Detroit cannot be bond
ed for more than four per cent Of IL
assessed valuation, plus the valus
ton Of the sinking funl.
The fourth amendment reads. Of
the ballot;
do you favor vesting the mayo
with the power to appoint and re
move all Of his appointees at hts vii
and pleasure. except the members o
the civil service commission
Passage Of the amendment woul'
put the mayor In sole control Of al
appointments. without being subjec
to the approval OF the common coun
ell. and appointees could hold ono,
only at the mayors will and pleasure
"Shall the common council be de
MED the power to grant special priv
leges for the use or occupation o
streets by abutting lot ownersT Z
the way the next amendment appear
on the ballot
The long fight against street stands
which had occupied city sidewalks
year after year, by council permit
was the cause Of the introduction o
that amendment. The supreme cour
ruled that the city had the right /,
GUST the stands, but II took q lonl
battle to get the decision. Tn
amendment contemplates puttini
street permits beyond the power o
the aldermen.
Construction barricades, occupyinl
streets under permit from the depart
ment Of public works, would not b.
affected by the amendment.
do you favor dividing the terri
tory of the city Of Detroit into 2
wards?" is q question that needs n
explanation. The division Of the bi
Seventeenth ward, into the Sever
teenth, Nineteenth and Twenty-flrs
wards, is regarded as necessary 70
proper handling Of the district. Tn
Eighteenth ward, has also grown to-
large for practical purposes. II 4