The Detroit times., 1909-02-04
II ENTHUSIASTIC
DYER MUNICIPAL
\ OWNERSHIP
nsgRs or svs-coMMITTEE,
esrn IHE EXCEPTION OF W. o.
6aAhoN. sHy AT SCHEME, BUT
ESvlLL coNslpER IT.


rcldsring municipal ownership as
zion OF the street railway problem
subcommittee OF the committee
~ which has that subject In charge
n not meet until next week. being
last to organize.
W. ID. Mahon, whose connection with
International Association OF
treet Railway Employees keeps him
nveling q large portion OF the time.
the only strong advocate OF munici-
~ ownership on the committee. APP
nrontiy this committee was rather
- after-thought.
ID. NJ. ireland, chairman OF the sub
|ommittee. declares that the subject
|uiIl be thoroughly investigated.
ri have not studied municipal own
[ktship deeply" he admitted. AT this
'1tme do not want To discuss IL. /
~ not prejudiced."
n Charles A. Dean has considered the
street railway problem TO q consider
|nble extent and has looked over the
nunicipal ownership angle but does
|fot appear to be favorably impressed
aoward that sort OF settlement
I'm . Utopian way. l believe in
|Dublic ownership" stated Frank Ken
Enody. I'VE shall have TO study local
|60nditions closely before deciding that
|}t - practicable here. however. With
HE merit system and operation by
|commission entirely independent o.
EDolltics, think that the city could
|0oerate the lines economically. With
|conditions as they are at present.
|nm inclined TO be somewhat dubious
Nut will give all the facts fair con
'Uideration."
VIM. Pasha, another member OF the
Eeommittee. Is disposed TO go very
|1lOwly In considering municipal own
|oFahip. He says that he has found
very little municipal ownership sentl-
n,ent.
II Is big question that not one
|DerSon In 1000 Is fitted TO discuss
he says. "ln foreign
4ountries where they have public OWL
0gehip, they do not get the facilities
~ service that we do here. They do
net have as good cars. either. I will
oorye on the committee TO the best OK
ny ability and give the city the bene-
'1t Of my best efforts"
Profs. Cooley and Adams OF the Uni
zvorvity of Michigan, are the experts
W0om the subcommittee on apprais-
Ne OF the Committee OF Fifty would
IKE TO get to appraise the equipment
md fag-end and franchise values OF
He Detroit United Railway. They
lave been asked 10 submit an esu.
unte of the cost. The appraisal or
tho company's real estate will be
I&ttended to by the real estate board.
p. w. Simons started something In
tie subcommittee meeting Tuesday
|ovening by declaring that he did not
6ol1evo any settlement could be ar
|runged which would be satisfactory to
10th the city and the ID. U. r. He
u5ointnined that the road will not &C
'nopt any settlement which will let out
HE water from the securities. Either
1lunicipal ownership or long fran
|0nise was the only solution he could
do the ID. u. r. franchises really
|Qxpire on the dates set down In the
'oeiginal documents or have extensions
been secured by means OF changing
|1inas, switches and other strategic
noves!"
That was the question to which the
franchise subcommittee devoted itself
~ its meeting. Attorney Clyde I.
ygebster warned the committee that
the ID. u. r. might claim that certain
1ye-cent lines had secured co-termin-
o6S franchises with the three-cent
1fneo by running over the same lines.
~ . preliminary measure, the COM
U1tteo will get records OF every bit OF
street railway track In the city. wheth-
or authorised by the council or not
Copies Of all franchises are being Sc
cured and the members will divide up
the franchises so that each may IA
Ulliarf9e himself with some line
Fred A.. Smart. q member OF the
committee, has helped to start and
build several electric railway enter
prises.