The Detroit times., 1914-01-01
(5MAS G.. CRAIG SPEAKS
NAVORABLY OF MEASURE
Believes Ii VIII BE Adopted. and
Warmly COmmends Lead
ing Provisions

By no means all Of the members Oh
the Board OF Estimates are opposed
10 the new charter because the board
would be abolished by It's adoption.
Some OF The FOREMOST members have
expressed themselves as unpreiuuieed
against the cAarur. though tney de-
clare that they nave not yet given the
document as a whole, sulnclent con
sideration TO accord Il their unqGes-
tloning approval
Estimator Thomas G.. Craig was en-
gagged in .eading the charter when
seen by The Times.
1T liz scarcely Wise for me TO com
nit myself, said Mr. Craig People
might say that because / was defeated
for the presidency VI the board. | am
disgruntled and would like TO see the
board abolished.
II believe that the charter will DO
adopted II Is In the air The people
want A change. They are willing 10
try the new charter, 10 see II II will
give them any Improvement over the
present system. fnd that there Is
very little opposition 10 the charter,
and that which exists is almost en-
tirely among those politicians who be-
lieve that their own interests Will be
injured by its passage.
Il am inclined 10 believe that the
Capitalization OF power Ia the hands
OF the mayor is a good thing. | have
always thought that there should be
some cheek on extravaganza. In the
past, that check has been furnished by
the BOARD OF Estimates. The alder
men have done very little TO CUT ttrt-
budget But II may be that II the
council and mayor are made COM
pletely responsible, they will take bet
ter care TO see that the city Is pro-
tected | have often noticed that a
man grows TO the bigness OF his job;
that even d. man who appears TO have
little ability may be found TO develop
great deal when new responsibilities
are placed on him which require 1t. 1t
may work out that way, IN case the
budget is left to the council and the
mayor.
The abolition OF parties in the city
government ought 70 be a good thing
The city should De managed just as a
corporation Is run BY its board or al
rectors. There Is a place for parties
In national affairs. but not in those Oh
city. Sooner or later | believe We
shall come TO the commission form OF
governmenL--a gov eminent more like
that Of business corporation.
II see that the charter gives the
1914 Board OF Estimates advisory pow
er over the budget. That really means
nothing; It means simply that the
charter commission conformed 10 the
law which demands that no existing
term OF office be shortened. | doubt II
any effective work will be done by the
1914 board, II the charter Is adopted.
And, as say, believe that the char
ter will carry"
Standish Backus, estimator from the
First ward, said that he has not read
the charter, but expects 10 study II
within a week.
THE abolition of the Board OF EST
mates will have no weight with me, In
making up my mind about the char
ter" said Mr.. Backus
Frank d. Andrus, estimator from the
Second ward has not studied the char
ter sufficiently to make up his MIND
about II. but he is not satisfied with
the present organization OF the Board
OF Estimates, and is not opposed 10
the charter because IL abolishes the
board
81 have been In favor OF board or
10 members OF which five are elected
at large, each year, said Mr.. Andrns.
The proposed abolition OF the board
as II ia at present constituted will
have no weight with me against the
charter"