The Detroit times., 1914-02-09

On November 9TH, 1912 the voters of Detroit voted
IN favor of Charter revision by the overwhelming
majority of 1924 votes for it to 1867 votes against
This that the people of Detroit certainly thought
the present Charter needed revision.
On April 7th, 1913 twenty-one Charter Commits
sioners elected to prepare Charter and sub
NIT it to the voters of Detroit For eight months they
studied the government of Detroit and the govern
ments of other cities They studied the good things in
present city government and the good things III
other city governments and tried to eliminate the bad
things in our present method Of government. In
the Charter they have combined the best features
of our present government with those methods OF gov
that have proved sound and successful in other
cities They have done nothing radical or revolution
airy. The City Charter is progressive yet sane and
scientific
Shall all their work be for naught?
Municipal Ownership.
Among other things the new Charter provides for
municipal ownership in thoroughly proper and scen
tfc way The people of Detroit voted for municipal
ownership last Spring but there is quite difference of
opinion among lawyers of recognized ability as TO
whether not the present Amendment will give us
municipal ownership in the way that we should have It,
The method provided by the new Charter was thor
oughly thought cut and there is difference of opn
ion among attorneys to what this means.
Help for Detrots Workingmen.
The new Oh after gives us Labor Welfare Depart
ment, thing that will be of great benefit to the work
ingmen of Detroit 1t provides for minimum wage
of 1925 per day, and eighthour work day on all
city contracts II also provides that the prevailing
highest wage shall be paid for city work and also on
all contracts for city work This is fair and right.
The new Charter provides for Recreation System
which will prov lie Fairgrounds for your children and
better park facilities for all of and this means much
to the worknprner OF Detroit.
1t authorizes the City to acquire City Hospitals and
provides better for taking of the poor and
unemployed of Detroit
Pensions for Policemen and Firemen
The whole community has been shocked in the last
few months by the number of policemen who have been
shot while doing their duty The new Charter PROVIDES
adequate pensions for the wives and children of both
policemen and fremen who permanently injured or
who lose their lives while on duty. This has real
touch of human sympathy to it and should receive the
sunnort of all classes of people who believe that the
wives and children of these brave who lose their
lives in doing their duty should be provided for
Business Methods of Administration.
The new Charter provides for business method OF
administering the affairs OF Detroit IL centers all re-
sponsbity in the Mayor and extends the term OF the
Mayor from two to four years. 1t allows the Mayor
TO appoint his own assistants subordinate officers
The new Charter provides that if the Mayor does not
do his duty $3.50 of the number of voters who voted
for Mayor at the last election can cause special cleo
ton to be held At such special election the Mayor
must appeal to the voters for continuance OF ohce
or if he does not get continuance he will be recalled
from office. This cannot be DONE however, until the
Mavor has held office for six months, thus giving him
at least six months in which to show the people Of De-
rot that he is conducting the office in the best inter-
ests of all the people OF the city.
Fewer Aldermen Non-partisan Ballot
The new Charter increases the number of Wards
from 1S to 81 but reduces the number of Couneimen
from from each Ward to from each Ward. In other
words instead of having SO Councilmen have at
present we will have 21 Councilmen
The new Charter provides for a partisan ballot
and separates the City elections from the State and
Citizens Char
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