The Detroit times., 1914-02-06
LAWSON SEES MINOR
FLAWS tNAffiARfER
tContipued from Page Duel.

Influence as members Of the legisl,
ture."
Again Mr.. Moore differs from Nh
lawson. citing several cases 20 sho'
that there is no definite provision d
the laws which prescribes the man
ner OF choosing supervisors, and hold
ing that they may be appointed "a
well as elected.
On the third question, Mr. Lawson
holds that III the method OF appoint
ing the representatives on the Doal'
OF supervisors be declared Illegal J.
is my opinion that the charter p
>, adopted, may be amended SO as u
provide for the selection or election
of number OF supervisors 20 MAKE
the representation on that board oi
In that body what il now Is lie De
lieves that the city's representation
will be reduced 10 "a, but he THINKS
that the city can soon provide 10 lh
crease IT'S delegation 20 81.
On the fourth matter in question
Mr.. Lawson holds that the Norolhs
OF Chapter Us OF the new chaFeI
makes il an amendment TO the pres
ent charter. instead OF general re-
vision.
"The language is amendatory Ian.
guage; there IS no escape from that,
he declares.
I'm express terms. all special acts
or parts OF special acts not IN con.
hict with the provisions OF the pro-
posed charter are continued IN full
force and effect IS Implication, all
parts OF the original act 32b Of the
n ff "A.
the proposed charter. are also con
tinued in force.
This is obviously indicated by the
circumstance that only such parts are
repealed, and il is more clearly midi
Gated by the circumstance that GER
tain parts OF said original act must be
retained IN order TO make the pro-
posed charter operative, as, for in
stance. the proposed charter provides
for the election OF recorder without
making any provision whereby the
jurisdiction OF the recorders court IS
defined. To ascertain such jurisdic-
ton, resort must necessarily be had
TO the original act. Perhaps the same
may be said OF other special acts al
fecting other departments or the city.
Now, If the court. In constituting
this chapter in connection with the
purpose and powers OF the charter
commission, can say that II is re-
vision, and not an amendment. as the
language above quoted would indicate,
then, perhaps. the court may pro-
nounce II valid revised charter for
the city OF Detroit But my opinion
is that the language OF said section
renders the proposed charter OF doubt
full validity because amendments TO
the charter may be proposed only in
either OF two ways, one by the legis.
>lative body (the common council;
the other by initiatory petition
so that II must follow that the
proposed charter as a whole, cannot
be regarded as series OF amend
ments to the present charter and be
valid because amendments 10 said
charter cannot be thus proposed. :.
"Only a judicial determination
which will characterize the proposed
charter in this respect, can clear up
the question"
Mr.. Moore. however. differs with
Mr.. lawson on this point.
The intent OF the trainers of the
charter was so clear as 10 leave no
doubt that the new charter is com.
plete revision" he said. There is
no question In my mind, and I do not
believe that the courts would ques.
ton, that the new charter is a reyis.
ion, not series OF amendments"
Both Mr.. Lawson and Mr. Moore
cited numerous cases in support OF
their views.
A mysterious handful has appear.
ed. addressed TO members OF labor
unions. IL declares that many Of
those who favor the charter are en-.
emies of organized labor, and names
Frederick +. ingram, Edwin DENLY,
s. s. Kresge. whose new building IL
Is said, is being built By non-union
labor, and many others The Dill
bears the union laber, from which the
number OF the shop has been care
fully omitted, so all attempts on the
part OF union men 20 learn who is
responsible tor the handbill have been
fruitless.
The union labor men are indignant.
Not only is the publisher OF this
handful afraid TO disclose his ident.
ity, but he did not tell the truth
declared Sam Tobin, union leader and
secretary OF the citizens charter com
mittee. THE Kresge building is not
being erected by non-uniOn labor, but
by union labor; and believe that
many more statements In the bill will,
ON investigation, prove TO be false.
III the new charter were harmful To
union labor, do you think the union
leaders would be for Il? Almost 10 a
man, they are in favor OF the charter.
and SO are the rank and file OF union
labor men"
Mr.. Tobin named several labor men
who favor the charter. including Pres
ldent Mahon. OF the international
street car men; Secretary Reeves. of
the same organization, Stanley An
derson, president OF tho Detroit Fed
Grafton OF Labor; Charles Lewis. It's
secretary; John steel. OF the Seamen.
Otto Sprunk and Frank Martell OF
the Typographical union: lanes
Darr. business agent OF the Metal POL.
ishers: George Harris. former presi-
dent of the Michigan Federation OF
Labor: George Alexander, business
agent OF the Carpenters; Adolphus
Poole, treasurer or the Michigan and
Detroit Federations Edward Francis.
president OF the Building Trades
William Mitchell, business agent OF