The Detroit times., 1917-10-24
COUNCIL.
OF Nine IS
FAVORED
Plan Boosted By Sue
cess of Member.
School Board

The efficiency OF the seven-mem-
Der school board, elected at large,
is held up by proponents OF the
small council idea AS strong
argument in favor OF a change in
the form OF the city's legislative
body. Altho the board has been in
existence only since last Jsly, the
superiority Of this method of hand
ling the business OF the public
schools over the old ward system
has been demonstrated in many
ways.
In no way does the new board
differ from the old as much as in
The form OF procedure, which is
one OF the biggest points in its
favor Now instead of empty ora
tory and wind jamming for the bene-
M of a packed lobby. there Is 4 quiet
discussion OF board matters around
the big table The old hoard sos
sions at times resembled a hippo
drome, today they remind one Of q
meeting OF the directors OF some
big corporation.
II merely illustrates the difference
between political methods and bust.
ness methods The ward system
just naturally breeds politics. and
owes its very existence 10 ward par.
tisanship But politics cuts no fix
ure IN tho deliberations OF the
school board elected az large. re-
gardless OF on what ticket this or
that member was nominated Rou-
tine matters are disposed OF quietly
and smoothly. as routine matters
should be disposed Of When a ques-
tion of policy is involved. or a
change In tho rules, or the fairness
OF an individual item or account. Il
is freely discussed around the table
and finally submitted 10 a vote
Aid. James Vernon dean OF the
common council. is strongly IN favor
OF the nineman council plan
Il am in favor Of changing tho
form OF electing our public officials
whenever II appears that a change
is desira BILE" said the alderman
Three times since have lived In
Detroit | have seen changes IN the
form OF eleCting school inspectors
I believe the present plan rs the
best one we have tried vet, and
will be effective as long as We can
keep on electing men like those
now serving on the board
81 think Detroit has had enough
Of the ward system Of electinC her
aldermen It's time we tried some
thing else II will do no good 10
cut down the representation 70 one
alderman 10 a ward that would
not be changing thc ystem What
We need is small body elected a.
large. and if that plan should lose
its effectiveness in time. We could
try something osc
AID Jacob Guthard does NOT share
these views A step away from tie
old ward system is step away
from fla people and toward au'oc
racy ho srggfs
good trrt toward fhc orraui21
tiou of fhs rdWir sfrati01'e caw
pairu fe~ crnrler rev sion a at
council and "a new Hrile Isia hr -
Vas made Tuo day aftntrao afn
representative ~ several civic or
gaU'zations met in rhc MAYORS OF
fee J ] Crowley va names chair
rrgu ~ ft- raucraI Gamma pr CONS
mitfee. anG Henry dl was
made publ chalrmar ward y
Cfoqtr Wit lavo charyo of Tho
sr rrr' hcr 71 Thr caupg go
Ti' pro-ecHiFi aiorr l1fe Hun.
8ha' similar io ihe Liberty bo-d
cr
Tsc mon present ir Tuog8ay
e,... o. b. rar u Iff 3D.. r.. 81 ,,. a., .
a r Iewr rlef0r. president of fho Board
of C1marrc-. j ] Crowley and
Lent D. rpsnn. a. fi- u.treif HH-
roam a. Government Dr. rarch.
pilnr " Marsh an. W D.. LNetf.
of thc Detroit CitizeNs lcacuo. otis
Morse and Henry r Ewald. Of the
Adcraff club. Frank Hamburger. of
The Detroit Credit Mems associa-