The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-02-18
DOES THE
PROPOSED CHARTER
ABANDON DEMOCRACY7

ABANDON DEMOCRACY
Taking note OF the contribution
OF Mr.. Miles In last Wednesdays
Public opinion column OF the Up
slant Daily Press, | am pleased
that he finds in the proposed city
charter many excellent provisions.
He is probably in the position Of
many others who flnd much good
in II and yet object TO certain parts
OF II. All such objections and com.
mendations are evidence that our
citizens are studying this important
proposal and are making sincere
judgments in the interest OF what
they believe TO be the future well
fare OF our city. In that spirit, con-
tributions such as Mr.. Miles ought
to be welcomed.
The single objection he raises is
an interesting one: why abandon
democracy in Ypsilanti?". Let's
look at 1t. The objection is that
putting the administrative service
OF the city in the hands of one man,
the city manager. "abandons de-
mocracy". introduces somewhat
limited dictator policy. The later
use Of the word dictator, unquali-
fed, and the words dictator Hit
Ter" would indicate that Mr.. Miles
pictures quite complete dictator
ship.
Now, Is the proposed city man
agership that? A dictator is q man
who comes to power and who re-
mains in power by strategy and d.
plomacy backed by physical force,
force which he himself Yields with
out let or hindrance. He can say
with Louis XIV, IL am the state;
nobody may interfere-that is. un.
less war comes along and he is
lost In the deluge which he creates.
Is the proposed managership that
bad? Read Chapter " OF the docu.
ment, relating to the city manager.
1t begins with the word "responsi-
bility'I Section AZ. is loaded with
responsibilities, IS OF them. Read
them. Do they sound like dictator
ship? or course he has power.
Why? In order to carry out these
responsibilities; they can't be car
ried out otherwise. Section Al.
reads: "he shall be selected by the
Council. Section A.. says, They
Cncluding the City Manager) shall
hold Office at the pleasure of the
Council. Are dictators selected by
and do they hold office at the pleas.
ure Of the peoples representatives,
the councilmen?
To come closer to the point.
Why did the Charter Commission
make the City Manager, once he Is
selected, the administrative head
OF the nine city departments, with
power to select his administrative
personnel. and why did 1t prohibit
interference by the Councili This
provision enables q full-time man
OF training and ability to put his
plans into action-to coordinate the
city departments, to effect econ
omies wherever possible, to secure
greater efficiency, to plan for Ypsi-
anti's future by the leadership
which his position gives him. And,
so far as the citizens are concern
ed, they know exactly where the
administrative center OF RESPONSE
bility is; "buck-passing" is out. In
accomplishing these ends, he would
naturally and logically welcome
suggestions and seek advice from
the Council( just as a superintend.
emit OF schools advises with the
board of education. The proposed
charter provides that he shall at
tend all meetings OF the Council,
with the right to take part in dis
cussions, but without the right to
vote. His very position is depend
ent on close and congenial work.
ing relationship with the Council.
On the other hand, to protect
the Manager in carrying out his
administrative responsibilities the
charter (Section 31s) prohibits
councilmen from directing or re-
questing tn appointment or remov-