The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-19
DUS7ANO CARSTENS
TO LOCK HORNS
IN DEBATE
CITY OWNERSHIP CANDIDATE
ACCEPTS DOCTORS CHALLENGE
TO DISCUSS TRACTION ISSUE
sRElTMEYER DECLINES.

DR.. j. Henry Carstens sprung a sur
prise on the other two candidates for
the Republican mayoralty nomination.
by issuing a challenge Thursday night
To them To meet him In debate on the
street railway question in the Light
Guard armory Saturday night
William 7. Dust accepted as soon
as he heard OF the challenge. but
Philip Breitmeyer has not done 80 yet.
He will probably decline, believing
his present plan OF campaign Is prov
Ing effective.
Certainly I shall be glad TO meet
DR.. Carstens In debate on the allah
sorbing street railway settlement
question" says MI Dust. II. cannot
believe that the doctor made the
statement credited 10 him in one OF
the papers this morning, They have
no suitable and definite plan for ac-
eomplishipg solution Of the traction
proposition Surely the doctor has not
read my platform. Six weeks ago,
or. TO " more exact. Aug. H.. my
platform was issued. and one OF the
papers commenting on II the follow
Ing DAY. said: His platform. com
mendaSiy frank and coure geously
stated. may be the solution OF the
street car question in Detroit
Now. in all my campaign htera-
tire. l have stated that 1t IS the only
Clealkcut, straightforward and prac-
teal plan OF settlement offered. ana.
up to the present moment no one
has had the temerity to question the
definiteness OF the plan. Could any.
thing be more definite or positive than
my pledge to take steps Immediately.
IL | am elected mayor. to submit to
the people. first an ordinance provid-
ing a franchise Of not more than Is
years. beginning at the expiration OF
the first of the present franchises and
expiring at the same time upon all
lines. a fiat three-cent rate OF Ave tick
cts for Is cents, universal transfers.
ad valorem taxation, the absolute
control of the service by the city and
the option Of taking over the prop
erty at an appraised valuation? MY
second proposition is an ordinance
empowering the city to acquire and
operate street railway lines and to
issue bonds, secured by the plant.
This power to be used only in the
event of any company falling To ac-
-cept the terms OF the ordinance.
Thinks Scent Fares Reasonable.
Il have stated repeatedly and in
the matter circulated by me during
the campaign. that l believed the peo-
pie would approve OF both PROPOSE
tons. say that I would then sub
init the ordinance to the company for
acceptance and as IL has demonstrate
ed that it can ruin part Of It's lines
upon a three-cent basis. and the rest
OF the lines upon three-cent basis
for part of the time. and still pay in
terest upon its capitalization greatly
in excess Of the actual value OF its
property, and facing the inevitable al
tentative OF accepting the franchise
or being left with a useless equip
ment upon its hands. would come In
under the ordinance. believe this;
I believe 1t is practical and believe
It is the only definite and practical
plan to solve this problem. 1t is up
to the people themselves-they are
the court OF final resort. for, under the
new constitution, the street car prob
lem is put squarely up to the people
No franchise may be
granted except with the approval OF
three-fifths OF those voting. including
women taxpayers. The city may
own and operate street railways upon
the approval of like number OF ciu-
gems.
II would like to put 1t up TO any
thinking man II there Is anything In
definite in this proposal Of mine. This
Is my platform; Il stand squarely
upon IL and am pleased that an OPP
portunity presents itself to discuss 1t
with pf.3 Gafstehs- before people.
DR.. Carstens plan calls for the re-
OF the street car system
and the building OF new lines. He Is
confident that such change would
result In economy OF operation and a
reduced fare.
Dust made a series OF meetings
Thursday evening and met with
great reception everywhere. He talk
ed on street railway matters, taxation
and home rule.
DR.. Carstens also made a number
of meetings and met number OF
friends and former patients. he de-
nounced present street railway condi-
lions and talked about settlement Dy
means of big popular committee.
Philip Breitmeyer was the busiest
man OF all, making Is meetings during
the evening and having the -entree at
many private house meetings 10
which the other candidates were not
invited.
Physicians who favor DR.. Carstens
are sending out 10000 letters to pa
tients advocating his nomination.
Bretmeyer Friday afternoon said
he had two reasons for declining the
debate. He said that he does not
consider ii fair for DR.. CarAens TO
spring such proposal at the end OF
a long campaign when the other can
didates are already billed for their
entire time. He also says he does not
consider IL necessary now. when the
three mayoral candidates have ex-
pressed themselves to the people for
weeks. to have any spectacular de-
bate
= a. not wish to battle with eth.
er of the other Republican candi-
dates" says Breitmeyer. They are
both excellent men and I can say
only kinds things OF them. However.
this question is one for the people to
decide and not one for us to wrangle
over. I have gone 10 the people 0di-
n