The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-05
TO
GO INTO EFFECT
WITHIN 80 DAYS
City Clerk Will File Returns
With Secretary Of State Some
Time This Week
COMMISSIONERS MAY NOT
GET SALARY INCREASES
Question Raised as to Legality
of Allowing Boosts During
Present Term

The several charter amendments, in
GLIDING salary increases for city ON.
cials, $4,000 q year 10 reach OF the
four civil service commissioners and
increasing the bond interest rate
from four to ave per cent, will be-
come effective as soon as City Clerk
Lindsay files the vote on the amend
ments with the county clerk and the
secretary OF state. The law says this
must be done within 80 days after
the vote has been taken. The city
clerk expects to mail the result Of
the vote to the secretary Of state this
week.
Civil Service Commissioner James
ID. May called on Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Edmund Atkinson.
Thursday morning. to discuss the
legal status Of the amendment giving
the commissioners $4,000 year. He
wanted to know II the women tax
PAYERS who were denied the right TO
vote on the amendments would be
likely TO take any steys to invalidate
the amendment, and also, II the pres
ent members Of the commission could
benefit by the amendment. The home
rule bill specifies that the salary or
emulrments Of city oficials cannot be
increased during their term Of ONCE.
Conn issioner May was given copy
of the home rule bill to study.
I'VE only asked the voters for q
vote Of confidence" explained Commits
sioner May, intimating that he per-
sonally did not care whether he or
his successor benefited by the salary
Amendment.
Owing to the fact that the salary
gift Ia In the nature OF creative amend.
ment. II Is possible that the present
commissioners may be placed on the
salary list by the council. However.
this Is question that Corporation
Counsel who Is out of the city at
present, will be asked tn give an opin-
lon Oh
It will be possibl efor the council
to Increase the mayors salary from
$1,000 to $1,000 when the mayor en-
tiers upon his second term In once
next January. City Clerk Lindsay
will also be able to derive the benefit
OF a $1,000 salary increase at the same
time. d. p. W. Commissioner Fenkell
and Controller George Engel will not.
creases during their present term OF
once. although II would be possible
for them to resign and accept reap.
pointments from the mayor at advanc-
ed salaries. While Kenkell and En-
gel could do this. Corporation Coun-
sci Lawson, who Il also entitled to Q
$500 increase under the salary
amendment, could not get away with
IL. He is q Democrat, and Mayor
Marx has his eye on the corporation
'counsefs ONCE. II Lawson resigned
to take advantage OF the salary in
crease. he would find q Republican In
his place inside Of Is minutes. Law
son will have to struggle along on q
$4,000 salary.
Controller Engel has asked the cor
poration counsel for an opinion as to
whether the bonds authorized for the
sued under the new rate OF interest
which Is fixed by the new charter
amendment which was adopted Tues
day. The resolution authorizing the
bond issues was drafted by the con-
troller having In mind the possible
adoption of such an amendment, and
the rate OF interest to be paid on the
bonds was not specified. II 1t Is nee.
essary to authorize new bonds, It will
necessitate the calling OF q special
meeting OF the board of estimates and
common council.
All OF the IL amendments sub.
mitted in, Tuesdays election car
'risd. with the exception of the pro
posal to extend the terms of city
Offices from two to four years and sep,
arate city from national. state and
county elections. In the interests OF
reform this amendment. or rather the
latter part of II, was considered the
most vital OF those submitted, but II
has been decisively defeated.
There IN some doubt as to the fate
of another important amendment,
that to abolish the board OF esti-
mates. The Affirmative vote Is larger
than the negative vote, and on q ma.
jority basis the amendment Is adopt.
ed, but Corporation Counsel Lawson
is inclined TO the opinion that this
proposal is really not a charter
amendment, but separate PROPOSE
ton, requiring three-fifths tote to
become effective. II this Is the Case,
the proposal has, on the returns failed
Of adoption.