The Detroit times., 1916-01-12
Mayors Annual Com
municatiOn Progress
siye in Tone
SUGGESTS MANY
CHARTER CHANGES
Would Abolish Board
of Estimates; Rut-
ter Heads Council

Charter alterations to further cen
tralize the responsibility Of the city
government. and to obtain more EN-
cheney plus economy la the admins
tration OF city affairs. were aoyocat
ed by Mayor Marx In bis annual
message. which be read to the com
mon council, Tuesday night,
The mayor urged the abolition OF
the board OF estimates. descrioins
the present method Of preparing the
annual budget as crude and mem
cient. In lieu OF the present board
be suggested that the udgets oe
submitted TO revision committee
ccnsisting OF the mayor, controller
and corporation counsel, then TO the
council for further examination and
elimination, and then 10 the mayor
with suaf power 20 reduce aHF iteEs
IN the budget.
In connection with the proposed
charter revision work. Mayor Marx
stated Il was his desire that all pro
xrsssiye changes such as the com
mission form OF government and the
manager plan. decrease in the size
OF the common council and tbs
board of education, the adoption OF
shorter ballot and separation OF
election, be given free and complete
discussion.
70 obtain some OF the charter re-
forms referred 10, the mayor sug-
xeetsd that ne might delegate q
committee OF 10 or rs citizens to
take up the task. The committee,
an unofficial body, would make rec
concentrations to the council after
naature study OF the city's admins
tfatise methods.
Regarding the street car situa-
tfon. the mayor recommended that
The following improvements be un.
ssertaken Immediately: Completion
a. the Junction-ave belt line, exten
sion OF the Fonrteenthave. line
construction on day-to-day agree
rnent OF such crosstown and parable
8 lines as can be obtained. together
with rerouting In the cOngeStee
section after the manner suggested
IN the traffic survey prepared by en-
gineers in the employ OF the rail
way board
AS further means OF relieving
q 49, n<.v.,.ett... d,r-r4y,suu fra may
or asked the common council and
railway board 10 give careful study
to the suggestion made in the traf
fc survey that the present surface
lines on congested avenues within
the mile circle be dipped as a pre-
i,1Dinary step towards the construc
tior OF complete subway system
The mayor stated that immediate at
tentiou on the part OF the city Off
clals and a little cooperation on the
psrt OF the ID u. z would bring
the desired results within six
raorths.
Other recommendation made by
the mayor included: Permanent
bridge TO Belle Isle, taxpayers 10 bs
fully informed regarding plans. spec
ifications and ultimate cost; munic
tpRI creosote block plant; snnexs
tion Of st. Clair Heights, Ham
tramck village. Highland Park vii
lage and parts OF Greenfield an,
Hamtramck townships; appropriH
ton Of funds to enable the recrea
tlon commission to properly censo
all theatrical performances. wider
ing of some streets and elimination
- grade crossings 10 reduce stree
dLnger; encouragement OF commur
iiy festivals; charter amendment
clearing away art museum and i
brary bond difficulties; revival O
the municipal journal plan, whicl
WIS defeated at a charter election
last year; new Grand Trunk tel
Fniral. council to take the nccessar
preliminary steps.
The mayor also urged the council
10 seek an order from the govern
nent preventing vessels from poI
luting the river water. and suggest
ed that assistant corporation coun
sci be detailed at Lansing durini
the sessions to keep IN touch Will
legislative matters affecting Detroit
In conclusion the mayor urge,
economy among the various city de
partments, pledgine his cooperation
In working to obtain lower Ia,
rate.