The Detroit times., 1917-10-06
Suggesting That Our
Local Government Should
III Be Nearer the People

10 pay oJofyp" 4't W." f'
OFFERED for sale on billboard before
the eyes Of the city's engineer and Alder
man Herman Schultz for $4,000
II voted to give G.. Lewis Carter law
YER having offices at 52i-525 Majestic
building shared with HIM at the time hy
Alderman Herman Schultz. pro1i oi
$4,000 on an investment of II 200 or
what the options on the two pieces ~
land cost him.
The council bought the property tor
site for sewage disposal plant an me
recommendation Of the council COMM.
tee on sewers, Of which Alderman Schultz
is chairman and which reported that d
"belieyed the price TO be reasonable
LAWYER Carter represented one Alftn
d. White in the transaction, hut orts
to establish the identity Of White noTe
proven fruitless
White could not be located 81 "hat was
given as his Chicago address
Nobody has been found who knows
anything at all about HIM, whether be Is
White or black
He figures in Judge Connolly first
grand jury presentment as a myth
which term is applied 10y Attorney
Tarrtes H II ttaetft4tii;
ceedings
1t is to Judge Connolly's grand jury
that we are indebted for the details Of
the little deal by which the mythical Mr.
White or somebody took advantage Of
knowledge gained that the city intended
buying certain pieces.of land.
In presenting them, Judge Connolly
said. in part, in his foreword
II Is advisable 90 emphasize az the sia- he
need and advantage 81 holding sessLons ~ -
grand jury AZ larry frequent intervals
Since the time when the prosecution % CRIME
was first authorized 10 b. carried on b} an eN
animation Of the magistrate. upon winch if base-
an information OF The public prosecutor. 1 me
main only such law breakers we4lid ~ pGr7-----
as were held for prosecution by The police Az
thorites and prosecuting attorney Dtlinars.l
both these agencies must concur Tor an electift
prosecution n either for any reason Withheld
action the lawbreakers stood fair chance 20
go unwhipped Of Justice.
In other words, the grand jury is the
only whip We have over slumbering Off
Gals and, indeed. sfumbering citizen
ship, lulled to repose, perhaps, by the
inactivity of the officials.
The attempt was made to put this deal
over on the taxpayers of the city Of De-
troit at a time when the call upon their
pocketbooks is heavy, first because Of
Encouragement like this Of the public
moneys to which they must contribute,
and again by the expenses Of war and an
attendant high cost of living necessi-
ties.
It was as easy for either the city engi-
neer or the alderman who accompanied
him to the proposed sewage plant site TO
ascertain the name and address Of the
agent having the property for sale as it
was for the mythical Mr.. White.
Mr.. White had in mind, however, a
profit for himself representing a sung
sum of money.
Neither of the city officials slapped in
the face by huge sign bearing the
agents name and Office address had in
mind the saving to the taxpayers of that
snug sum, or the beating or real estate
sharks to the bargain.
Had a CITY MANAGER visited the
property it would have been different.
The property would have become the
city's at the agents price and without
the hod-up of a boosted profit.
That is another service that Judge
Connolly's grand jury has performed for
us,
1t has proven that the citys admins
tration Of the city's affairs is TOO far from
the people; that our municipal govern
ment in It's present form is lacking in
responsibility and that it is a hard mat
ter to reach down into it and improve it
with the weight of sentiment.
We are. at least, impressed with the
aivisability of adopting the course that
is at hand and voting a 80 per cent re-
duction in the number Of our aldermen
thereby reducing by 80 per cent the
chances Of finding in office paid servants
with as little interest in the pockctbooks
Of their constituents as we find display
ed in the attempted steal which Judge