The Detroit times., 1915-02-17
CHARTER
CHANGES DRAW
COUNCILS 0. K.
Eight Accepted Without Divi-
sion. While Others Win
After Hot Fight
PLAN no BOOST PAY OF
ALDERMEN is YELLED
|Solons Refuse To Submit Pro-
posal As Clear Cut Salary
Grab

Grab
Eleven charter amendments were
accepted by the council. Tuesday
night, and laid on the table for 30
days, at the expiration OF which time
those that are adopted by the alder
men will go on the ballot for sub
mission to the voters at the spring
election. Eight Of the amendments
were accepted from the committee on
charter and city legislation without
question, but three came In with d.
Fvided reports attached and these were
voted upon separately.
The proposed change in the civil
service law. giving the heads of de-
partments permission to select from
the highest Ave on the merit boards
eligible list. was the first Of the three
taken up for discussion. Aid. james
Vernon, the father Of civil service,
fought hard to have this amendment
knocked out.
you take away the vital authority
from the civil service commission
when you allow a selection to be
made, from the highest FIVE candi-
dates" said Aid. Vernon. "You allow
politics and religion, the very two
things we want to get away from, to
influence the appointment Of city
employee. Experts have told me that
the one weakness OF the federal civil
service Is the fact that department
heads are allowed to choose from the
highest three on the list. II this
amendment Is adopted. the effect Of
civil service Is spoiled and you have
made farce OF good thing"
Nineteen members OF the council
failed to agree with Aid. Vernon and
the amendment was accepted.
question to be submitted to the voters
on the amendment raising the salary
OF the aldermen to clearly state that
the proposal Is to boost the pay from
$1,000 to $500 year. BY vote of
20 to IL, the aldermen decided to
print this question on the ballot: "On
and after the second Tuesday In jan
uary. 1917. shall the compensation Of
each alderman be $4,000 per annum."
Aid. Lodge failed second time
when he attempted to have the coun-
ell accept an amendment providing
for five-man board Of estimates, In
stead Of the one reducing the board
to 90 members. Ave ITO be'elected at
large. and giving the mayor veto pow
er on budget items. 1
Eight other amendments were &C
cepted as follows: Providing for d
convention hall commission empow-
cred to construct convention hall at
cost not to exceed $1.50O.000; en-
powering the city to establish NUM-
cipal journal; abolishing the o'clock
count at all elections; empowering
the city to erect buildings for q mu-
scum of art. school of art and music
hall; creating q city plan commission
with power to approve or disapprove
designs for public buildings, parks,
monuments, ETC.; empowering the
city clerk to transfer names of elect
ors from one district to another when
district Is enlarged or divided; en-
powering the city to appropriate
money either by tax levy or bond
issue for the construction of hospital
buildings, and empowering the city
to maintain and operate ferry lines.
II does not necessarily follow that
all IL amendments will be submitted
to the voters. The form OF the amend
ments now on the table cannot be
changed before going to the voters.
but when the amendments are taken
from the table 80 days hence. each
will again be subject to attack and
must either be adopted by the alder.
men for submission. or Knocked out
entirely. Ten thousand copies of the
proposed charter amendments will be-
printed for general distribution.
Aid. Cranshaw introduced an ordi-
nance .?fscing the Twelfth ward from
the river to Lafayette-blvd.. In the re-
stricted district for saloons. This ac-
ton will probably affect the plans
under way for the construction of a
large amusement park at the foot of
the West Grand-bNd by private pro.
moters. Aid Barnett presented an
ordinance providing for the licensing
OF loan companies, Aid. Field object
ing to the immediate passage of the
measure.
Aid. Herman link presented a reso-
luton calling upon city officials and
employees to donate one days pay
to charity. The suggestion was adopt
led unanimously.
A