The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-28
It's a Poor Policy That Is
Not As Good For One Civic
Board As For Another


Der Of which is a woman) is no longer a
new thing and a novelty.
A visit to one of its meetings is re-
freshing.
The lobbyist, as much a part Of the
old ward-selected board as the secre-
tary's minutes, is missing
That is the first Endorsement az the
new idea presented to the visitor.
And the politicians, too, are consplcu-
ousiy absent
They have wound up the strings which
they used to pull with effect, IN return
for having delivered" on election day.
because it is intended by the small board
idea that they will never have further
use for them.
The small board viii stand the closest
scrutiny and fail to show a red-nosed
saloonkeeper upon it.
Saloon representation Of the greatest
American institution was part of the
ward-selected board that was banished.
The small board meeting is conducted
under the rules Of strict business; not
under the rules of booze control, strictly
To watch il at work one would think
it meeting of directors of bank or a
large manufacturing institution
There is an interest in the matters
that come before IT,
And they are measured by the stand
ard of their actual moment; not by the
yard stick of peanut politics
: The schools are not sacrificed; the pu-
pills are not sacrificed; teachers are not
sacrificed public money is not sacrificed
thru the desire of one Inspector to get
even with another Inspector because he
refused to indorse the gangs choice. for
job.
The people of Detroit may well pat
themselves on the back for the change
they have made in this board from ward
representation to real and conscientious
representation.
And the people of Detroit should real
ize, now that they behold the proof of
their mistake in maintaining the old and
cumbersome system for so long, that
their next move is to reduce the size of
their common council down 10 point
nearer direct responsibility.
There soon to be submitted to the
people the proposition of whether they
want a general revision Of their charter.
That they will vote Overwhelmingly in
the affirmative is a foregone conclusion.
Detroit has shown of late that it has
taken its place in the forward march Of
progress.
And having provided for themselves
the opportunity, there is little doubt that
the people of Detroit will heed the exam
pie and the satisfactory results Of other
cities and take the steps necessary to a
reduction in the number of the city's al
dermen.
Our aldermen are now chosen by
wards, as school inspectors once were.
The people voted their opinion that
one school Inspector from every ward
made board Of exactly Ia members too
many, so reductd its numbers from p
to Z, and elected them AT LARGE.
1t is a poor rule that does not work
both ways.
It is a poor policy of government that
does not work as well with one civic
board as another.
The Detroit common council, as IL
stands at the present time, IS exposed
to the same influences that the old school
board was
II is subject to lobbyists who are ef-
fective thru long acquaintance with al
dermen whose return to the board for
term after term has been due 70 the
votes of sleeping and submissive cleo
torate rather than to ability 10 repre-
sent.
Politics holds sway in this board as il
did in the old board Of education, its
standard is the standard Of pap and pulls
petty jealouses and personal ambitions
It's business ability is nil and its meet
ings are jokes.
To maintain it bit longer than neces-
sary is wasteful both Of the time Of
many of its members and the pocket
books of the taxpayers.
Tnasmuch 90 Michigan i soor 20 e,o