The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-07
Declare That Provisions Which
He Now Assails We're Approx
ed by Him Before AdOp-
ton by Commission
ALWAYS A REACTIONARY"
Is JEFFRIES' COMMENT
Declares Town Lawyer" Part
of Connolly Machine-Denby
Gives Singing Rebuke

corporation Counsel Iawsons half.
hearted opinion against few points
IA the new charter have brought about
ms ears, and those OF Aid. Vernon, who
ASKED Tor the opinion. well knowing
"hat IL would be. a storm OF indig.
nation.
Members OF the charter commission
openly accused Mt Lawson. Saturday
or bad faith. One after another they
asserted that they had consulted him
on every doubtfGi point. and when his
advice was not available, they con
suited members OF his stan. Ralph
/Hal! Ferris said that even after every
point al Issue had been put up 10
the corporation counsels office. IL was
determined 10 ask Mr.. Lawson to pass
upon the charter as a whole.
Mr.. DENLY. Mr. Ingram, myself and
others distinctly and courteously ask
I'd MIR. lawson Ga pass on the char
ter as q whole" said Mr.. Ferris. "He
declined. saying that IL was unneces-
sary to lake such action.
President DENLY. in a dignified but
bitter statement. takes Mr. Lawson 10
task for his written opinion. He
says:
II congratulate Mr.. Lawson upon the
skill with which he has aided in AT
eleventh hour attempt 10 defeat the
charter The ethics OF the situation
will probably not trouble him. nor
mar his triumph IN case the ATTEMPT
is successful. The opinions which the
Cherter commission sought in vain.
when they woull have been useful in
aiding 10 shape the Legislation. Aow
freely from his pen when asked by
The council week before election. n
Mr.. Lawson was Insulted or his opin-
ions treated with 'insolent contempt,
which | deny absolutely, the city IS
asked to pay dearly for this hurt 10
his signity.
But there is no time now TO handy
personalities with Mr.. Lawson or any
enc else The question Is now, what
effect MIR. Lawson should have upon
the voters. Assuming that he ia cor
rect in his present conclusions, he has
touched on only three or four alleged
flaws in the charter He has left un.
assailed the provisions for the aboi.-
ton OF the hoard of estimates. the
reduction OF the number of aldermen,
rhe concentration OF power IN the
mayor, the extension OF the terms or
elective officials, the establishment OF
The recreation committee. and other
provisions which are sound and de-
eirable. The provisions assailed, even
should Mr.. Lawsons opinion prove
correct In every particular, can be
amended later without hurt to the
citys business.
81 believe that the many good things
in this charter should be adopted by
the people Immediate steps can then
be taken to test the validity Of the
few disputed sections. Let ME call at
tention to the fact that II Is scarcely
conceivable chat any instrument OF
this character, no matter how carefully
drawn. will ever be permitted to go
into effect without first being tested
IN ,he courts. and We had better try
now TO get the things we want anu
aubmit them to. the test. rather than
eesuse them all and be left with no
change from the present situation,
Frederick r. ingram denies that
The commission failed TO consult MT.
Lawson regarding the charter lie
said, Saturday: ~
81 am very much surprised by Mr
Iawson's attitude In regard to the
new charter
"The members OF the commission
conmlted him almost daily IN re-
gsrd TO the legality and phraseology
~ the different provisions OF the char.
Ier ne was particularly consulted
=, ,aqard IN the representation on the
hosrd of supervisors. and said at the
,,ma thai even though the plan adopt
"a NV us were Illegal, no harm to tho
.;,v could result. for the city's ratio
,horaon could be filled in some other
,sav before the sitting OF the board on
he, tax apportionment. In TACT, ne
Ia thai no other way occurred 10
Mr. lawson had copy OF me pro
as eharter ,or weeks before II was
esI,v Isl, actoa uron by the commission.
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