Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-16
COSCROVE STILL DELvBC.
Deputy City Comptroller Reports on
Cleveland Detroit.
PURCHASING AGENT SAVES MONEY
Explnins statu of LOw Fare Deal in
Tom Johnson's Town and out
lines the Possibilities of De-
troit situation.

DEPUTY city Comptroller Fred II. Cos
grove. now making a round Of the principal
cities and examining their accounting sys-
TENS has lust sent back two Interesting
letters from Cleveland and Detroit, deal
ing particularly with the street car situn-
lions in those towns
Mr.. Cosgrove. says he finds that In Clevo-
lend 40 per cent Of all passengers carried
are on the scent fare, and that an or
dinance is pending to have all carried at 3
cents. There are qualifications, however
On the scent lines a passenger will get
a transfer for 1 cent additional, and II he
uses Il within ten minutes he gets a refund
Of / cent from the conductor. On the g.
cent lines double fare IS exacted, and when
transfer is used 1 cent is refunded; or, N
other words, a series of scent discs Is
sold for 3 cents each in quantities Of five
or more. For a single ride one disc is re-
quired. but TO transfer calls for an addi-
tional disc, and the transfer brings a penny
rebate when presented for a ride. There
is no transfer on a transfer except to
certain stub lines.
Creates New office.
The ordinance now pending will create
the office Of street railway commissioner,
and will provide hat the initial fare on all
lines shall be 3 cents on a sliding scale
which reaches 4 cents cash fare and l cont
for a transfer. This ordinance is to be
submitted to a referendum vote.
Mr.. Cosgrove says Cleveland has a city
m and a purchasing agent with the
most complete accounting system he has
yet come across. The city examiner goes
through all reports and accounts Of off
Gals and offices OF the city, as well as the
~onorfa % The xtarforo ownnraffone no WING
any sort OF tax. The purchasing agent has
paid the expense Of maintaining his office
the first year by securing cash discounts,
close prices and through the economical
system Of handling stationery and other
minor supplies.
Detroit Renting ITS Streets.
OF the existing situation in Detroit Mr..
Cosgrove writes that the street railways
franchise expired Saturday nuight last and
an agreement has been reached by which
the company pays $500 a day as street rent
until a settlement is reached. Under the
old franchise the company paid IL and 2
per cent Of its gross revenues. The Omaha
official was surprised to find that no rep
resentative Of the city of Detroit checked
the books Of the company to ascertain the
amount of revenue, the city comptroller
and others taking 1t for granted the Trac-
tion company was truly and accurately
reporting its receipts" No personal tax
was assessed on the company and last
year the revenue to the city was about
$1,000. Mr.. Cosgrove gained the impress
sion the present fight between the city and
the company will result ultimately in mu-
nicipal ownership. They levy two kinds
Of tax here" writes the Omaha investiga-
tor, Specific and ad valorem, and to tell
you half / nave heard on this subject to-
day would fill no mean volume"
Sinking Fund Commission.
In Detroit the sinking fund commission
frequently bids in city bonds and
sells them to local people in any number
from one up. The city bonds draw only
sh per cent. but Mr.. Cosgrove says the
demand for them by citizens cannot be
supplied. He asserts the system works ex-
cellently.
Detroit street railways are cents and
3 cent lines. Where the nickel is charged
the company paves between the rails and
eighteen inches outside, and repairs and
maintains the same. To the 3 cent lines
the city makes the concession Of making
and maintaining all pavement and con.
Btruetion under tracks, with six inches OF
concrete under ties. This arrangement
has been very expensive to the city" says
Mr.. Cosgrove cost Of repairs having run
10 $2S5, OOO." He says the requisition and the
voucher system used in Detroit is the best
We has seen.
when Mr.. Cosgrove gets home. in about
Two weeks" said the city comptroller, I'VE
will have all the information necessary tc
prepare blanks tina will bring us all the
revenue the city is entitled to under oc-