Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-14
New System Goes Into Effect in De-
troit Today.
MAYOR JONES APPLAUDS PINGREE
Governors Next Move Will Be for
City Ownership.
EXTRA SESSION PROBABLE

fares are announced today the fronts of
Detroit street cars in the places where
amusement advertising signs are usually
carried. This sudden voluntary reduction
is the result of a decision of Governor Pin
gree and Tom L. Johnson to give the peo-
pie an object lesson upon what they may
look forward to if the present plans of the
sale of all the Detroit railways to the De-
trOit Municipal Railway Company, in be-
half of the city, win out. The three-cent
tickets sold today at five for 10 cents are
so worded that their use for full payment
of their fares can be withdrawn at any
time
City in FurOr.
The city is in a furor over the present
situation. All the newspapers and nearly
all the more prominent citizens are oppos-
ing the Pingree plan, and it is now claimed
that the majority of citizens oppose it, on
the ground that three-cent fares and quasi
municipal ownership will fail to pay the
expenses and the $lI.0OO,D00 proposed to be
paid for the roads; and that they will, if
purchased, revert to the present owners.
In the latter event, the roads would be
operated under the security ordinance, al
ready passed by the council. which per-
mits operation of all the roads at six-for-a-
quarter fares for from thirty to forty-eight
years.
Gov. Pingree claims that the roads will
certainly pay off their purchase price un-
der Scent fares. Gov. Pingree is having
circulars distributed the streets giving
his side of the controversy.
A special meeting of the city council is
called for this afternoon at which a work
ing ordinance is expected to be passed.
granting the municipal company rights as
to operation of the roads. This ordinance
reserves to the city the right at any time
to fix the rates of fare, said rate mean
while to be 3 cents with universal trans
fers. Mayor Maybury will veto both ordi-
nances, and the question is whether the
Pingree people can secure passage of both
over the vetoes.
City Ownership Next.
From a source close to Gov. Pingree comes
the information that soon as council
finally adopts the municipal railway or
dnance the governor will bend his ener-
gies to securing a special session of the
legislature for the purpose of providing for
the submission of constitutional amend
ment to the people permitting the city of
Detroit to go into the municipal ownership
of street railways. The governor hopes to
get the special session in operation some
time before the November elections and
announcement of the plan will be formally
made within a few days.
The governor has issued a proclamation
to the people calling attention to the eff
forts of the enemies of the people" to de-
feat the Scent fares, for which he has
been struggling for ten years, and appeal
contest.
Three-cent tickets will be sold on all lines,
with universal transfers.
Mayor Jones. CONCENTRATIONS.
TOLEDO, Ohio. July 1.-THE following
messages We're exchanged between Governor
Pingree and Mayor Jones concerning the
Detroit Scent street car fare, which goes
into effect today:
Hon. S. NJ. Jones, Toledo:
''Three-cent street railway fares and uni
versal transfers go into effect in Detroit
Friday and will be continued indefinitely
unless stopped by the enemies of the people.
III. S. PINGREE.'
Hon. H. S. Pingree. Detroit:
Accept my hearty congratulations on the
triumph of public ownership in Detroit.
The day of the people is dawning 1t is a
victory of reason over force and a great
step toward the realization of real liberty.
The people will own themselves.
IS. NJ. JONES'.