The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-09
COUNCIL MEETS
TO FILL GAPS ON
ELECTION BOARD
City Clerk Finds, at Last Mo
ment, That Many Posi-
tons Are Vacant
ALDERMEN DISLIKE
CIVIL SERVICE RULES
Insist That Constituents on Gas
sified List BE Allowed
TO Sit in Booths

City Clerk Lindsay sent out a hurry
call. Monday morning for a special
meeting OF the council to DC held a.
2 o'clock IN the afternoon, ior me
purpose Of flling vacancies On the
boards OF registration in the various
precincts throughout the city Ihs
booths opened FL O'Clock this after
noon for registration IN connection
with the charter election, and II was
more than an hour before vacancies
on some OF the boards were filled
Through an oversight. the matter
OF filling the vacancies was not at
tended TO in the last regular meeting
OF the council
A number OF aldermen called orr
Assistant Corporation Counsel Ed,
mund Atkinson. Monday, TO md oat
IL certain OF their constituents, now
on the civil service ID. p. ". CLASH
fed list. could not act as members Oh
election boards without automatically
removing themselves from the protec-
ton Of civil service. A number OF
men on the classified list work only
during the summer months.
These fellows have been out Of
work for two, three and four months
now" said Aid. Littlefeld. Il want 10
know If the civil service commission
has got the right To. tell them taat
they can't earn SIS or $50 sitting on
election boards without knocking
themselves ont Of a job next sum
mer.'
Mr.. Atkinson opined that il would
be up TO the civil service commits
sloners TO make a ruling, although IN
der the act, temporary city employees
are regarded The same as regular
employees.
Il have two men in my ward that
come under the act aud | am going
TO tell them TO lake their seats on the
board" declared Littleheld III they
are removed from the civil service
lists, Ii seems to me that there VIII
be some way OF squaring up rot
ten deal like this
Several other aldermen declared
that they would advise their friends
10 stick. under the same conditions.
The rs employees OF the department
OF public works whose names appear
i'm the list OF election inspectors ana
registrars and who are forbidden 10
hold such offices by special provt
sion in the act creating the depart
ment OF public works. have been in
formed by Commissioner Fenkeil that
they will be risking their steady JOBS
II they work In the booths, on cleo
tion day None OF the IS has handed
his resignation to the city clerk as
vet. although several OF the affected
clerks and inspectors have given their
resignation TO the aldermen OF the
ward.
Regarding the presence OF chal-
lengers In the booths, the election law
says:
Sec. %. At every election, leach
OF the political parties, and any
organization or committee or citl-
zeng interested In the adoption or
defeat OF any measure to be voted
for or upon at any election, or
interested In preserving the pur-
ity OF elections and in guarding
against the abuse OF the elective
franchise, shall have the right to
designate and keep not exceeding
two challengers at each place or
voting, who shall be assigned
such positions Immediately adj.
Joining the inspectors inside the
polling place as will ENABLE them
to see each person as he offers
TO vote and seat and table or
desk on which he may write with
In the railing. shall be furnished
for the accommodation or one or
such challengers, and he snaI
have the right TO inspect the poll
lists as kept by the clerks. and
who shall be protected in the dis
charge OF their duty by the In
spectors and the police. Author
,tsx al ~ hA
chairman or presiding officer OF the
chief managing committee or any
organization or committee Of citi-
zens interested in the adoption or
defeat OF any measure TO be vot-
ed for on upon at any election,
or interested in preserving the
purity OF elections and in guard
ing against the abuse OF the cleo
tive franchise or any political
party in such county or town
ship, city, ward or voting pre-
cinct. shall be sufficient evidence
or the right OF such challengers
to be present inside the room
where the ballot box is kept. The
chairman appointing any chal-
lenser may, at his discretion, re-
more him and appoint another.
Any challenger shall have the
right and privilege OF remaining
during the canvass of'the votes
and until the. returns are duly
signed and made. Any officer or
election board who shall prevent
the presence OF such challengers
as above provided. or shall refuse
81 or fail to provide such chal
lengers with convenience for the
performance Of the duties ex.
pected OF them shall, upon conyic-
ton, be punished as provided In