The Detroit times., 1914-01-26
DEFEAT OF NEW
CHARTER WOULD
MEAN LONG DELAY

right TO issue those bonds al once.
without waiting for special election
next June or July"
Yes. but how about the legality OF
the charter" asked Mr. Engel 1T
viii be sure TO be- attacked"
Whereas an amendment TO the old
charter won't be attacked" he was
asked
who would attack il. II the people
voted that they wanted IT," was the
controllers logic.
Perhaps the ID. L. r." was sug-
gested
Corporation Counsel Lawson. who
doesn't like the charter. and whose
opinion on Il IS all the more valuable
for that reason. took another fall out
OF its opponents. Monda;. when he
declared again that the municipal
ownership provision OF the new char.
ter is far better than the present
municipal ownership amendment, and
that the amendment adopted last
spring won't work.
| Mr. lawson was asked about the
argument that the two per cent issue
1 OF bonds for street railway purposes
| Is included. by the charter within the
oityS bond limit The charters OPP
ponents say that IL is within the eight
per cent 20 which cities can bond.
The two per cent is certainly with
I in the city's bonding limit" said MIR.
/ Lawson. But whether that limit Is
eight or ten per cent is another ques-
ton. and shall not try 10 decide II.
| the new charter provides that the
city's bond limit shall be four per
cent II the two per cent for street
railway purposes is outside that
famount, we'll and good. II 1t is inside
H. we are still In position TO issue
the street railway bonds, for we still
have sufficient margin. And II the
city finds that II wants TO raise the
/ bond limit. IL can hold a special cleo
/ ton for that purpose. But II the new
charter passes IL is ready 10 go ahead
under section which has been care
! fully studied, and has the sanction
OF all the attorneys who We're con-
/ suited We even succeeded in win
ming over George William Moore 10
our way OF thinking The street rail
way section OF the charter Will work;
! the municipal ownership amendment
won't work. That's all I've got to say
about e."
The citizens charter committee Is
planning 10 open up on the city OFF,
cidls who have neglected to reply to
! Hugh Chalmers letter, asking them
to state their stand on the charter
The only replies received are those
OF Aid DeGalan. who took no def
mite stand, Aid Reinhardt. who sent
back Mr. Chalmers letter with the
notation. II am going TO vote FOR
1t. Pardon delay" and AID. Lodge,
who wrote.
/ When you say that the good pro
visions Of the new charter far out
weigh the bad. you make the best pos
sible argument for its adoption. be-
lievC We must have some charter
adopted, and who can say that any
other charter prepared by commits
I sion selected just as the body which
made the proposed charter was select
ed, will do any BETTER"
/ The committee believes that AID
! Dingeman, owen, Reid and OBrien
/ are also in favor Of the charter.
/ A meeting was held. Monday noon
at the c. r. Wilson Body Co.. which
was addressed by Antonio Entenza
/ Justice Jeffries addressed the work
ers at the Kelsey Wheel Co. Monday
evening, Frederick r. ingram will
( speak AT the dedication OF the Ives
school. Phllips-ave., near Jefferson
ave; Patrick Heating In meeting Of
the West Michigan-ave. Improvement
association. in Rutter's hall. and Jus
tice Jeffries and MIR Fntenza Will ad-
dress gathering in Bestel Lutheran
church.
The opponents OF the new charter
claim that il will cause an increase
OF taxes said Justice Jeffries Mon
day. IF / were to say that 1t would
cause lower taxes. my say-so would
not make II SO, neither does the say
SO OF any other man make II so, that
the adoption OF the new charter will
cause an increase in taxes.
The best guide that the people
can have TO insure reasonable tax
rate is efficient and honest public OF.
fcials. who have TO do with not only
the raising OF the budget, bur the
expenditure OF the money after II is
raised.
IF ar extravagant administration
pays more money out than IT receives
in vaf'ie for property or service, then
the rate OF tax IS high. Ii is not al
ways the budget-making powers that
are responsible for high taxes.
The Capitalization OF power in the
aldermen and the mayor. and non
partisan ballot, and free. open
primary, will have a tendency TO
bring into public life more indie
pendent, intelligent and worthier
class of public officials. who will feel
responsibility to the people. and will
carry out the will OF the people.
Therefore. free. open election machin-
cry, with decent salaries, and fixed
responsibility, Is a safer guide In in
surfing the average taxpayer OF rea-
sonable rate of taxes. than a compli-
Gated machine government, where in