The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-24

But Hutchins told them, after he had
been In charge a short time, that this
could not be done. Then he laid down
this policy which had been pursued
ever since: Building up the railways
and operating them, leaving other
things alone, crCi sing no bridges till
we should come 20 them and biding
the time when all men should know
that we want TO do only that which is
right"
The entrance OF the Detroit Railway
lines. built by the Everett-Moore syn
dictate, came next, and the fight be-
tween the systems was described. Tho
Citizens railway cut It's fares to eight
tickets for a quarter TO meet the com,
petition! The two companies went
along In their way. neither knowing
how the other was doing but fearing
lit would succeed. Hutchins. Johnson
and the others in control OF the Ave
cent lines did not believe that three
cent fares would pay. but they wero
not sure and so tried the Detroit rail
way fares.
Finally the owners OF the Detroit
railway lines became restless and then
confidential Hutchins decided that
they wanted the older lines to join In
a request for higher fares.
Afterwards, when we came into
possession OF some data. we found that
they had been hit good and hard, -
naively related the d. U. r. president.
Then he described the purchase OF
the three-cent lines and the consollda-
ton of all the lines.
He attributed the continuance OF the
fight for three-cent fares TO the
American hatred OF imposition and the
lingering idea that present fares are
an imposition.
Get that idea out OF your head, as
Is now being done, and you will never
hear OF II again." asserted Hutchins.
Material Costs Much More.
Since Pingree's time. cost OF ma
terials has risen from 20 TO 100 per
cent. he said. and rates OF wages 1914
per cent, while fares have remained
the same and longer rides are given.
The assessed value OF the city In the
outlying section has increased by tens
OF millions, due to transportation bet
terment.
"Other mayors have succeeded May
or Pingree. all OF them honorable men.
but none OF them has as yet wholly
lived down the old cry for three-cent
fares, and I'm the meantime that cry
has been In the throats OF many men
of as many minds said the speaker.
Look up the records OF the common
council. he continued. and see what
the council has done for us or done to
us. You will discover that In all Of
these years. with agitation pivoting
upon a demand for three-cent fares.
there has not at any time been enact
ed by the common council any legis-
lation whatever that was intended to
help the company. On the contrary.
these records TEEN with legislation In.
tended to hurt us. II Is perfectly
plain. therefore. that II we have paid
anybody in the common council for
anything they have done for u.s. We
have paid our money foolishly be-
cause we must have paid for some
thing that we never got. Then IL we
have paid anything we must have done
so to avoid worse things than have
been done 10 us. and still must have
paid foolishly. because these records
show that about everything they could
do to hurt us has been done. would
say to any man in public or private
life, Don't be a CRATER. M You do
you will bring To yourself only unrest
and shrinking OF soul
The Underlying Motive.
"As a general rule, there has been
some well-defned selfish motive be-
street railway matters. Ordinarily
o Oft al - ~ nj
significance as TO who shall hold pub
lie Office, but very frequently are OF
different origin.
ION one occasion the liquor inter
ests Of the city and state were under
sharp attack. Some Of the liquor men
held a conference and decided that the
thing TO do was To get up some street
car agitation to divert attention from
themselves.
We have endeavored to steer our
way through all sorts OF harassments.
through financial pressure and through
all such conditions. saying little and
doing the best we could. following out
the principle about which | have
spoken"
Cleveland and Chicago Plans.
The Cleveland and Chicago settle
ments. to which President Hutchins re-
ferred. differ in detail but have the
same principle, that of quasi-partner-
ship between city and street railway
company. In Chicago the street rail.
way property was appraised. needed
extensions and improvements made
and the profits. above per cent on
the actual valuation of the property.
are divided between the city and COM
pany. In Cleveland the city has fixed
a maximum rate Of fare and the COM
pany Is to receive per cent on the
appraised valuation, profits above that
going to the reduction Of fares and the
betterment OF the property. In each
city. there is city street railway
commission to supervise the com.
pany's books.
Aid. Watson proposed somewhat
similar plan in Detroit and the Vernon
ordinance. now before the council. has
the same intent in view, that Of en-
couraging the street railway company
to give good service by fixing the rate
OF profits IL may earn, the rate OF fare
depending thus upon the service and
a good service requiring higher rate
Of fare than poor service.