The Detroit times., 1908-12-18
FEW REFUSALS To
ACT ON STREET RY.
COMMITTEE
MOST OF THOSE INVITED BY
MAYoR.ELEcT eREiTMEYER AP.
PROVE scHEME-MoRE NAMES
ARE MADE PUBLIC.

Letters of acceptance came In thick
and fast TO Mayorelect Dreitmeyer.
Friday, from the men whom he invit'
ed TO become members OF his street
railway commission. II Is evident
that the commission will be nearer
80 than so. as at frst planned
There will be steering commit
tee" In the large committee which
will act In directing the energies Oh
the various subcommittee. IL Is
probable that the mayor Will ieaa TINS
committee, although the members OF
II are not chosen as yet.
George H. Clippert IL one OF those
invited who will not take place on
the committee.
81 was a member Of the committee
that had the Codd-HutchinS franchise
In charge" he explains. One trial
was enough for me. Thai offer was
one OF the best propositions ever
made TO any American city, II not
the best. When that was turned
down by the people. what use Is there
In q mans giving up his time to pre-
pare another proposition
Therefore H. Eaton, who has ac'
cepted, admits that he Is not a three
cent fare man at this time.
IL am for frst-class service" he
says. However, while | have def
mite Ideas as to what the rates or
fare should be, | do not care to dis
cuss that feature now. | wish TO do
my part as a citizen In trying to Set
tie the question
James w. Thompson is the colored
representative on the committee. he
is interested In a regalia concern.
or those reported to have received
invitations, the following are out or
the city: VIM. c. Maybury William
ID. Mahon, E. A. Burch. Frank g..
Ryan, F. f. Ingram.
Most OF those who will take part In
the deliberations admit that they have
ideas Of their own as to The problem
but they are willing to look into the
facts before trying to lay down pol
Icy. II Is expected that sub-commif'
tees will be appointed to consider var
ious branches OF the problem; one tax
ing the matter OF rearranging the lines
and adding extensions; another con-
sidering growth o. passenger business;
another looking after service condi-
tons; fourth considering operating
charges. and 50 on. The matter OF
valuations IL expected TO be given
over largely to experts. IL case the
council will appropriate money Tor
their hire.
The inclusion of Howard G. Beck,
an accountant. andd w. W. Hannah.
David w. Simons and Edward c. Van
Husan' real estate men, on the COM
mittee means that the subcommittee
on which these serve will take up the
particular matters of investigating the
company's receipts and expenditures
and appraising its real estate directly
VIII Books Be opened7
The question as to whether the
street railway officials will Lllow their
books to be inspected Is yet to be de-
termined. ]. C. Hutchins indicated. In
an interview given The Times shortly
before his departure for Europe, that
the reports OF the company furnish
good basis for examination. 1t Is pos
sible that the d. u. r. will offer more
detailed figures of It's own as to tho
cost OF carrying passengers.
III this committee cannot settle the
problem, we might as well give up.
says DR.. ]. II. Carstens. I'VE must
consider matters Of service, new lines,
rearrangement Of the road, construc-
ton and everything else that enters
into the settlement I'm any way. The
rate of fare that we think right can
be determined only alter We have all
the other data.
II am hopeful that we can get
rate of three cents. I do not believe
in a long-term franchise. a 15-year
franchise would make all the grants
expire at the same time on all lines
We want to get all the lines under one
head and working together"
DIR. Lee 8. McCollester, pastor OF the
Church of Our Father thinks very well
of the Breitmeyer commission plan.
ut Is well for the business men OF
the city TO get together and discuss
the facts" he says.
81 shall accept" says Richard r.
10y. president OF the National Bank OF
Commerce. Before expressing any
opinion as to the outcome, | wish to
learn all the facts"
Barbour Has Ideas.
George H. Barbour. Of the Michigan
Stove works and other large enter
prises. is a student OF municipal mat
ters but is not ready TO commit him
self as to the issues to be taken up
by the committee.
81 have studied this question for 10
years and have my own idea as to the
solution OF the street railway ques-
tion." he says.
II do not care to express hose Ideas
until after the committee meets and
we have a basis of facts uron which
10 work. There will undoubtedly be
great diversity OF opinion at FIRST but
I think that we shall reach good re-
suit"
Thomas s. Neal. manager Of the
Acme white Lead & Color works, Is
not certain that he can give the time
necessary t. the committee.
II want to do my share FOR the city.
but Il is not best to accey' hurriedly
and then find ones time not available"
he says. 81 shall consider the matter
seriously.
ct think that much can be accom-.
plished. At least. the people OF the
city will be educated as - the real
facts involved and the commission can
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