The Detroit times., 1909-12-11

lie, through the medium of the press.
what purports To be an appraisal This
I'm the face OF the understanding that
there should be a full and open dis
cussion.
Our first thought was that there
had been some dark work. We did
not understand. We do not stand FOR
dark work OF any kind. While the
data was being gathered. We had
awaited the time when We should have
fair hearing. believing that the l'lb-
lie would get the facts as they were
gathered.
FIFTY" Acted With Secrecy.
II see no reason why the committee
OF fifty should have acted with this
secrecy. Our property is all here and
1 cannot get away IL could all have
been checked up in six weeks or two
months from the inventories We fur
nished
Il know that the figures furnished
by Bancroft are not correct. That is
not matter OF supposition. AS 10 how
/ he reached the conclusions. We are In
the dark We have been misled as 10
( the purposes of the committee of nifty"
/ Asked as 10 the alleged leaks OF in
! formation 10 the -. L. r.. Manager
I Brooks replied Some OF the apprais-
ers did not understand that they were
( here 10 90 sleuth work They thought,
as we did. that this was TO be an open
investigation. So they discussed our
/ figures and their own.
Il imagine that the common council
will pursue a different policy and give
hearings at which We can show our
facts.
II would say 10 any man connected
with the appraisal made by Bancroft
| that ! would advise him not TO sign
his isame to the figures that have been
given out
Let the common council do its
work public and openly. If We have
! failed 20 ask any questions or give
any advice. We will do II then"
This statement OF Mr.. Brooks. while
not answering directly the charges OF
/ Bancroft. shows a frame OF mind on
the part of the n. L. r. management
which might easily have been miscon-
strucd. IL is pointed out by some d.
L. r. men that the reports OF the indl-
vidual experts were already in and the
totals given out before the alleged
overtures We're made.
Manager Brooks stated that the d.
L. r. is not vet ready TO give out its
statement as 10 the present value OF
its property. That must be brought
out by study of the component parts
of the inventory The D. L. R. will
insist. however, that the final inven-
tory be based on the five-cent zone
rather than on the basis OF the lines
within the city limits only.
Mayor Breitmcyer declares that his
position with regard TO the Gilman
Nichols resolution will be determined
by the opinion OF Corporation Counsel
/ Hally Monday morning. He will not
say at the present time whether he
viii approve of this legislation II IL is
passed by the council next week.
Il have changed my mind three
times on this matter already as / ex.
amined II and ! will not give my opin-
ion now until Monday" said Hally Sat
urlay. Some other angle might pre-
sent itself"
Injunction Won't Be Asked.
No Injunction will be asked OF the
courts by the committee OF fifty 10
prevent the Detroit United railway of
iicials from tampering with the men
employed as experts in connection
with the Bancroft appraisal OF the ID.
l.. II. physical property. The fifty
heads are satisfied that the publicity
given the matter so far will act To
prevent any further trouble.
Attorney Clyde l. Webster present
ed To the executive committee. Friday
afternoon, four affidayits from Bar
croft's experts. these being Fred
Froehlich and l.. Richards, OF Toledo;
Frank Hall. of Detroit. and Frank f.
Johnson. OF Chicago Websters re-
port says;
in each case the affidavits show an
attempt was made 10 get these men
not TO sign any papers in connection
with the appraisal. In the case OF Mr..
Richards. the reason given was
there was crooked work being done
In the case of Mr.. Froehlich they
also asked for his figures They told
him 10 be very careful and cautious In
any papers that he might sign, be-
cause the papers that would be sent
him were very misleading.
In the case of Mr. Johnson. they
tried To get him not to see Mr.. Bar
croft until representatives OF the ID.
/ L. r. had first talked with him.
In the case OF MT. nan lney went
I farther than with any OF the others.
( They told him that the report would
be discredited and he could not afford
TO be connected with IL. and also told
him that the track figures were wrong
The method they used 10 get an In
terview with him was anything but
commendable.
Il have come TO these conclusions:
Il do not believe there is anything
/ in any OF the afhdavits showing any
criminal conduct.
Il do not believe the things done by
the Detroit United railway officials az
shown by these affidavits are sufficient
T 10 furnish The foundation FOR an IN
( junction bill
II do not approve OF the things done
I by the Detroit United railway officials
a5 shown by these affidayits or the
methods used. and think they were
highly improper. but DO not believe
/ they are ground for court action"
Train Victim Identified.
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