The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-03
NOT ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER MUNICIPAL
OWNERSHIP
MEMBERS OF SUBCOMMITTEE,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF w. o.
MAHoN, SHY AT SCHEME. BUT
WILL CONSIDER 1T.

No attempt will be made TO hurry In
considering municipal ownership as
solution OF the street railway problem.
The subcommittee OF the committee
of 80 which has that subject in charge
Will not meet until next week, being
the last to organize.
w. ID. Mahon, whose connection with
the International Association OF
Street Railway Employees keeps him
travelling a large portion Of the time.
is the only strong advocate OF munich
pal ownership on the committee. APP
parently this committee was rather
an after-thought.
d. M. Ireland, chairman of the sub.
committee, declares that the subject
will be thoroughly investigated
II have not studied municipal own
ership deeply" he admitted. "At this
time l do not want to discuss It.
am not prejudiced."
Charles A. Dean has considered the
street railway problem to consider
able extent and has looked over the
municipal ownership angle but does
not appear 10 be favorably impressed
tOWdku tudt SUIT vi bcttltIuenl.
"In Utopian way, l believe In
public ownership" stated Frank Ken
nedy. I'VE shall have to study local
conditions closely before deciding that
IL Is practicable here. however. With
the merit system and operation by a
commission entirely independent OF
politics, | think that the city could
operate the lines economically. With
conditions as they are at present. I
am inclined to be somewhat dubious
but will give all the facts fair con-
sideration"
VIM. Pasha, another member Of the
committee, is disposed to 60 very
slowly In considering municipal own.
ership. He says that he has found
very little municipal ownership senti.
ment.
1T is a big question that not one
competently." he says. In foreign
countries where they have public own
ership, they do not get the facilities
or service that we do here. They do
not have as good cars, either. I will
serve on the committee to the best o.
my ability and give the city the bene-
at OF my best efforts"
Profs Cooley and Adams OF the Uni
versity of Michigan, are the experts
whom the subcommittee on apprais.
ais OF the Committee OF Fifty would
like TO get to appraise the equipment
and fag-end and franchise values OF
the Detroit United Railway. They
have been asked to submit an esti-
mate OF the cost. The appraisal or
the company's real estate will be
attended To by the real estate board.
ID. w. Simons started something In
the subcommittee meeting Tuesday
evening by declaring that he did not
believe any settlement could be ar
ranged which would be satisfactory to
both the city and the ID. u. r. He
maintained that the road will not ac-
cept any settlement which will let out
the water from the securities. Either
municipal ownership or long fran
chise was the only solution he could
see.
do the u. U. RI franchises really
expire on the dates set down In the
original documents or have extensions
been secured by means of changing
lines, switches and other strategic
moves?"
That was the question to which the
franchise subcommittee devoted Itself
at its meeting. Attorney Clyde I.
Webster warned the committee that
the ID. L. r. might claim that certain
five-cent lines had secured co-termin-
Gus franchises With the three-cent
lines by running over the same lines.
AS preliminary measure. the com.
mittec will get records OF every bit OF
street railway track In the city. wheth.
er authorized by the council or not
Copies OF all franchises are being So
cured and the members will divide w
the franchises so that each may IA
miliarlze himself with some line
Fred A. Smart. a member OF the
committee. has helped TO start and
build several electric railway enter
prises.
! The second concert of the Detroit sym