The Detroit times., 1909-06-30
CITIZENS DEMAND
|THAT MAYOR CLOSE
| BRIDGE RESORTS
Big Petition in Boots Waits On His
Honor To Insist That Relief Be
Given From ''Intolerable
Conditions"
breitmeyer Says He'll Take No
Action Pending Report From New
Police Commissioner.

Mayor Breitmeyer met a large dele
cation OF Board OF Commerce mem
bers and residents OF the district east
Of Belle Isle bridge approach, in his
Office, Wednesday noon. The business
and professional men who called upon
him demanded that he at once revok
the licenses OF Riverview park and
other amusement resorts, TO terminate
Fvbnditlons which they termed dis
graceful 10 the city.
The mayors reply was that he Will
enforce the law, but wishes To give
Frank H. Croul the new police COM
missioner. a chance to regulate these
E'places before he takes action. He
announced that, IL he revokes the IL
cense OF one place, he will do The
came with all similar amusement
parks.
There were about so men In the
gathering, called together by the no
tice sent out by the Board of Com
merce. Among these were Joseph l..
.Hudson. Louis c. Stanley. James Ing
lis. Lewis b. Jones, w A. Dryer. Wm.
Van Dyke. Charles Moore, +. c. Bald
win, Sanborn I. McGraw. +. II. Mel
son, F. T. Ducharme, Fred G. Austin,
John b. Howarth, Frank ID. Andrus
Charles Sawyer. Harry c. Bulkiey
Thomas T. Leete, W. X. Kales. l.. w.
Goodenough. August f. Blesch, James
S Capen and William Stocking. +.
al Nelson acsed as spokesman.
Some action should be taken TO
recitfy intolerable conditions now eX.
listing III the vicinity OF Belle Isle
bridge approach" he said. We 90
not expect you to do anything thaI
will get you into trouble We do say
that conditions are such as TO require
some action: ordinances are being
violated and we are here to ask you
: TO see that the law is enforced
I'VE object TO the common council
making any change in the ordinance
and we do not want violations OF the
law 10 be winked at. These condi'
tons are especially annoying TO peo-
pie who desire to make Detroit their
home. Since calling upon Police Com
missioner Smith, recently, We have
found some change for the better.
I'VE are representative citizens and
tax payers and we are here to tell
you that We will give you our support
if you will give us yours. You know
\ whA the conditions are as well as
Ne do
Il L. Hudson was the next speaker.
SIIe stated that, while not as familiar
with conditions along the Midway
las residents of that neighborhood.
from what he had seen he knew con-
aitions were not such as should exist
Ct the entrance TO the city's beautiful
park
Things are going on that should
not be tolerated" he declared "T>ere
5hould not be any amusement resorts
j.. Ct the entrance 10 our park.
Mayor Breitmeyer ,-sa ;old the gen
tlemen present that h. did not desire
to hear from all OF them, as he knew
about what their feeling was. He
stated his position.
mo drastic action can be taken at
Cnce," he stated. If you close River
view park, you will have to close them
all A change takes place In the pc
Ice department, Thursday. | believe
Commissioner Smith is doing all he
can to regulate these places and do
rot wish to take any action until Mr..
Croul takes hold. If he cannot rega-
late these places, | will. But. gentle
men, | do want to see what Mr.. CrUul
can do We can stop the sale of beer
that Is all We can't close the
amusement places. Gentlemen, bear
with me day or two or week long
or and see what the outcome will be.
| feel that all these places should be
removed, but IT cannot be done In
moment. The city should own the
property at the bridge approach and
| will head a list to purchase 1t for
the city. We shall see, tomorrow,
what can be done"
Mr.. Nelson took up the argument
against the parks again saying: "Mr.
Mayor. we want to impress upon your
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