The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-10-30
Home Rule
Continued from Page One

stretch Of imaginatiO
Many prominent people in public
life have attested that they never
read the proposal prior to their en-
dOrsement Of IT, They merely endorsed
il on the say so of the amendments
proponents that ii would give Wayne
county home rule. They denied sup
port of the amendment when they un-
derstoOd the true import Of the pro-
pOsal.
Taxation-NO Representation
The amendment provides that De
trOit shall have II members ON p
man board which will actually operate
and have full control OF the county
government, if the proposal carries in
the election This would mean that
areas such as your community would
be left without adequate representa-
ton on the board since the OutcOunty
MEMBERS would be elected by election
districts which will be determined by
the charter commission Oh which the
city of Detroit will also have the
controlling majOrity This is especially
bad wnen you consider that the entire
presentation on the commute from
Out-cOunty.
The new supervisory board will also
have many powers which are frauShl
with danger, among them the power
TO contract for COVE rnmental services
with other governmental subdivisions.
This makes splendid opportunity
for under the table sleight Of hand
rule. 1t would also give the district
with the majority of votes (DetrOit)
every chance to pass the costs of city
government onto the Out-cUunty tax
payer.
Higher Taxes
DO you want 10 pay higher county
taxes This is Il good way to do it,
You now pay large portion of the
cost of operating DetrOit'S municipal
ly owned and operated university.
Pass the amendment and you'll pay
the entire bill You also pay large
portion of the salary of the judges of
Detroit municipal courts, common
pleas, recorders and traffic Vote no
80 that YOU don't pay "a higher rate.
The state constitution provides that
all county services must he maintain
ed SO does this amendment which
means that there will be no reduction
in operating costs. However, the new
board can remove your duly elected
county officials and substitute men of
their own choosing at salary they
establish without any regard to the
salary limitation set for these posi-
tionS by the state constitution. If any
thing. this will mean higher costs in
increased SALARIES. 1t will positively
assure the majority on the board (De-
trOit) of free manipulation without
any check by the voters.
DetrOit'S supervisors will continue
to be ex-OfficiO. but they want you Co
put the responsibility on the small
group from the Out-cOunty who will
have no vote in matters They want
you to elect them and then defeat
them. remove them from office for the
errors Of men in control and whom
they were unable to check
Graft? >
Proponents claim that this amend
ment will eliminate graft in the cOun-
ty. They cite Detroit as an example
of u home rule community which elm
mated such ills.
Let's look at the facts. The recent
grand jury brought about the cOnvic
ton Of twice the number OF city Off
Gals under the allegedly splendid
form of government as under what is
alleged as antiquated county rule.
This merely serves to prove that
checks are necessary on the men in
office. as graft comes with weak men
sooner than with weak rule.
1t is possible without passing this
amendment to streamline government
and inaugurate county employees civil
service under present rules even when
the home rule proposal is defeated.
Vote No
Why limit the proposal to Wayne
county if it's as good as its prOpon-
entS claim? The answer is that il
isn't. The movement is a power steal
by certain powerful but selfish inter
eStS. A cure which is more harmful
than the disease should never be tried
We therefore urge that no other than
no vote on state proposal No. 2 is
possible Our fOrefathers fought in the
revolution to strike down taxation
without representation :" let's not per
NIT recurrence Of the condition.