The Detroit times., 1914-02-21
PREFERENTIAL Y
VOTING PLAN IS
GIVEN QUETUS
Home Rule Law Does Not Az.
thorize Change, Lawson
Telb Committee
PREPARATION OF CHARTER
AMENDMENTS ORDERED
Planned To Submit Reforms In
Special E1ection-No Action
On vics-Mayor Proposal

Members Of the council committee
ON charter and city legislation, having
In charge the work OF prepsrins pro.
posed piecemsal amendments 20 the
city charter, went on record. Friday
afternoon. ~ favoring an early spe-
caal election for the submission Of
important amendments to the voters.
AID. vernon voiced the only objection
TO the special election plan.
Corporation Counsel lawson rudely
kn0cked out the preferential voting
feature Of the non.partisan ballot,
when no held that the homo rule act
would not permit any change In the
election plan other than 70 provide
for q non-partisan election and pri-
mary. He said Il would not be safe
to eliminate the primary. The alder.
men talked much on the non-partisan
primary, and. finally. asked the COZ.
poration counsel to shoulder the task
|Of preparing q charter amendment
changing the method OF election. Law.
SON politely refused and suggested
that the aldermen think over and de.
eide on . form they would like him
to follow In drafting the election
Famendment.
Aid. Vernon, who obpects 70 the nom
partisan ballot, wanted 70 follow out
. plan similar to the Australian bal.
lot system. but this was also ruled
out by lawson.
"The voters can do one Of two
|thiDgs-approve the present election
system by allowing It to stand, or
adopt the n0n-partisan ballot" said
the corporation counsel. '"The law
does not provide for q preferential
ballot or the Australian ballot"
The election plan will be discussed
In the next meeting Of the committee
which will be held on Friday. Feb. -.
The corporation counsel was in-
structed 70 prepare an amendment
providing for the separation Of muni-
cipal from other elections, the. lrst
city election under the amendment to
be held In the fall Of 1915 and every
four years thereafter. Other amend
monts were ordered prepared - FOL.
lows:
Reduction Of the common council
to one alderman from q ward. the
cityS representation on the board OF
supervisors to be maintained By dele
eating membership on the board %
the estimators. providing this board
10 not abolished. II the board n ebol
ished the ctiy's ressntation on the
board OF SUPERVISOR u to b made
up IN some other wsy.
Provision that tbz heads Of the city
Departments, with the exception of
the civil service commissioners. shall
hold O1ace 1t the win and pleasure a.
the mayor.
Abolition OF the Board Of Estimstes,
also an alternate proposition 30 re-
duce the membership on the board %
one estimator from each ward and 10
increase the powers Of the board.
Creation Of three new wards BY d.
viding the Seventeenth ward into
three. and the Eighteenth ward into
two.
No action was taken on proposals
to establish . department of labor
welfare and . recreation ocmmission.
They will come mp In . later, meeting.
A resolution was adopted roQuooting
the municipal railway commAssion 10
prepare any amsndmsnt ft deems nee
|essary to strengthen the present
municipal ownership amendment 70
the charter.
Aid. Archie Raids proposal for 4
vsce-mayor. to b electsd-at,laree, vas
drSt dlscuseod. Aid. Lodge arxuod
With Aid. Reid against lenethcning
the present ballot By placing another
elective once on Il.
I don't care about the ballot" Said