The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-06
FIVE CHARTER
CHANGES DRAW
COMMITTEE 0. K.
Include Convention Hall Project
and Proposed Boosting Of
Aldermanic Salaries
ABOLITION OF 2 O'CLOCK
COUNT ALSO IN LIST
Lawson Instructed To Prepare
Other Amendments-time Linn
II Expires Saturday

Five proposed cnArtor hmehouonse
providing for q convention haii, o.
Enlistment OF q municipal journal.
Authorization Of funds for art museum
msintenance and improvements. adolf
ton OF the O'Clock count elections
and increasing the salaries or the aio-
ermen from 81 ZOO to $500 per an
nun,, were approved by the committee
on charter and city legislation Satur
day morning. for submission by the
, council to the people in the April cleo
ton. Corporation Counsel lawson
was instructed TO draw up two addi-
tional proposed amendments, one CIV
ing the city the power to own and
operate municipal ferry. and the
other TO permit the city clerk to trans
fer names ON the registration books
when district boundry lines are
changed. Next Saturday Ii the last
day ON which the committee can ap-
prove proposed charter amendments
in time to get them on the ballot In
April.
Two proposed charter amendments.
recommended by Mayer Mary In his
annual message. were held up by the
committee on the advice OF the cor
poration council Mr.. Lawson
stated that to follow out the mayors
suggestion TO change the fiscal year
FROM July I to Jan. would mean Q
complete revision OF the charter and
would also necessitate possible
changes in the statutes. The other
suggestion from the executive office,
that the terms OF elective officers be
extended from two to four years was
voted on by the electors last fall, and.
according to Lawson's opinion. cannot
under the provisions In the home rule
bsll again be submitted for two years.
The proposed convention hall
amendment provides for the creation
of commission of five men. appointed
by the mayor and empowered to &C
Quire site and construct building,
the cost Of both not 10 exceed $780,
600. which, II Is proposed. shall be
raised by bond tissue. The proposition
must be submitted to q vote of the
electors before the bonds can be 10
sued
The members of the committee.
with the single exception of Aid. John
G. Lodge. chairman, were greatly In
terested In the proposal to increase
their salaries to $4,000. Aid. Harry
]. Dingeman objected to the corpora
tion counseps working Of the question
to be submitted to the voters which
was: "On and after the second Tues-
day in January, 1917, shall the com
pepsation Of the aldermen be increas-
ed from $1,000 to $500 per annum ??
At the suggestion Of Aid. Dingeman
the committee struck out the 81 zoe.
Then objection was made to the use
OF the word increased" the question
finally being worded to read: shall
the compensation Of each alderman
be $1,000 a Year,"
THAT question Is not quite so
clear as the one ! wrote" said Law
son. grfnning.
"Oh. It's clear enough; the people
all know how much we get now" ex-
claimed Aid. Jacob Guthard.
The aldermen who rooted" for the
increase explained that they did not
expect to be benefited by Il.
The proposed amendment empower
Ing the council to make necessary ap-
preparations for the maintenance of
the art museum, and also To mako
legal the authorization OF bonds not
to exceed 100000 for additional
lands and buildings, 10 include q new
museum. art school and music hall,
was presented by Dexter M. Ferry,
member Of the commission. The
validity Of 100000 bond issue for
the new art center on Woodward-ava
and also the future council appropr1a-
lions for the maintenance OF the Art
Museum Is now questioned by q pend
Ing suit In the supreme court.