The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-24
HUTCH|hs A|NIsi|
cleveland PLln
FOR DETROIT !!
Says Some Such Scheme, Combins1
With Much Of Christmas spe.t
Might Settle Traction Problem
In Detroit.
Declares Three-Cent Fares Imprastir
cal and Says Rate Was Made live
Cents at Pingree's Suggestion.

Let there be exercised great deal
OF common sense. great deal of the
Christmas spirit. and something per
maps OF the Chicago and Cleveland
plans OF settlement"
In the last clause OF the last sen
tence OF his address In the popular
lecture course in Detroit college
Thursday night Jere c. Hutchins,
president Of the Detroit United Rail
way. gave strong Indication OF the
position OF the interests he represents
with regard TO a street railway set
Element
Although Mr.. Hutchins delivered .
long, carefully-prepared and an inter-
esting lecture. he kept away very
largely fromsthR subject which FIR. NJ.
!. Stritch. In introducing him had said
he would discuss, the relation OF the.
street railway system to the upbuild-
ing OF Detroit" and the other topic
which most OF his hearers hoped 10 ba
eniishtened on the stand of the d. q.
X. with regard 10 a settlement Of the
pending franchise squabble. --~
True, the president of the d. u. r.
made IT very plain that he does not
regard a three-cent fare as practical
L
on those who advocate such a fare:
rather of tolerance as for men who
dream Of things which cannot be. And
he did not make any statement as Ia
what proper rate Of fare should be.
Pinsree Advocate Five-cent Pare.
The lecture was, for the most part,
a history OF the street railway sys-
tenn of Detroit and view of the way
In which the organization and opera
ton OF street railway system ap-
peals to the man who bears the re.
sponslbility FOR It ALL One startling
statement was that Gov. Hazen s. PIN
gree advised the abolition of the six
lfor-aquarter tickets and the Increase
OF fare to five cents straight after the
collapse OF the holding company plan
: In 1899. This advice was given at q
, conference In the Hotel Cadillac. Mr.
Hutchins stated. at which Tom Z.
, johnson. J. j. Speed Charles l.. Jos-
Ign. Alex. Mcleod and others wero
, present.
He may have been offended be.
cause the plan he has sought to carry
failed, but in tie meantime he had
gained wisdom" was the comment ON
Pingree's change OF attitude.
The lecture hall in Detroit college
was only about half filed when Presi-
dent Hutchins began his talk. Three
rows of seats in front which had been
reserved for city officials and rheni-
bers OF the committee OF fifty were al
most empty. Aid. John HARPER was
the only alderman to be seen from
the front. W. w. Hannah the only
member of the committee OF fifty and
jeremiah Dwyer. House of Correction
inspector, the only other city offcials
in sight
Engineer Bancroft, who conducted
the committee of fifty appraisal. was
an Interested listener. George w.
Moore, John Mcvicar and F.. +. In
gram, of the municipal ownership
committee, had front seats but moved
back. at the request of an usher, to
give room for the notables who -iid-no
come.
Introduced BY Fr. Stritch.
In introducing President Hutchins.
FIR. Stritch stated that the date for the
lecture had been made last summer
when there was no idea that the pres
ent time would be one OF crisis in
street railway affairs, while there
might be many sides 10 the street
railway question. the principal ones
were the inside and the outside
! CHANGING To the slim figure OF ne
traction company head. FIR. Stritch re-
marked: Our speaker OF the evening
doesn't look much like the 'bloated
representative OF corporate power
Truly. | think II | were TO change
clothes with President Hutchins he
would look like meek. jealous and
well-disciplined clergyman"
To begin. President Hutchins told
of the division of te army OF 5000
persons engaged in the operation or
the Detroit United Railway lines; the
desire of the company to best serve
the neds of the great host OF street
car patrons and the many troubles In
cident TO slight differences. He told.
from an inside viewpoint. OF the labor
troubles of past years. the arbitration
wrangles. and, finally. the realization
OF the men that he desired their good
! for the good OF te company and MS
selection as arbiter OF disputes. -.s.
Then he took up the history or
street railways from the time of the
/ strap-rail. horse-car lines In 1867.
/ These lines became the best In the
country of their kind. he said. The
devplopment OF the electric power
system and the demand for its intro
| duction in Detroit were not discussed.
" Al C A BUILDING Supt. Fined.