The Detroit times., 1909-12-24
sQUABBlE OVER
BELLE ISLE CASINO
Two Members Oppose New Lease To
Konen--Ald. Thompson Favors
Municipal Operation.

With Ave members OF the park com
mittee OF the common council willing
to award a lease or the Belle Isle ca
sine for two years to William Konen'
the present lessee, at $1,000 year
and two members firmly opposed
thereto, tho situation as regards the
running OF the city's big restaurant
building is still undecided after a
month or two OF consideration.
The two opposing members can. II
they 50 desire, prevent confirmation
Of the contract until the terms of the
old council committee expire and new
ones are appointed. Then the prob
lem would be taken up all over again
Il do not know whether l will even
make a report" stated Aid. Freiwald
chairman OF the committee, after the
latter had finished long and scrappy
session.
Aid. Thompson opposes the lease TO
Konen because he believes that the
city should buy Konen's equipment
and run the place itself; Shapland
wants TO see the prices OF food scaled
down to the reach of people OF mod,
crate means and then wants bids
taken for the two-year lease.
Ala. Freiwald, Heineman, hutter,
Heating and Ostrowsk are In favor OF
another term for Konen. at rental
considerably reduced from what he Is
at present paying. The argument for
this Is that Konen will give better
service than anyone else, and that the
taking of bids would open the posi-
biity OF some person getting the con.
cession who would give the public
poor service or second-class food.
The arrangement favored by the
majority Of the committee would
change the present conditions at Belle
Isle casino in several particulars. Per-
sons purchasing meals OF moderate
cost would eat in any portion or the
casino, walters TO be furnished who
will take orders without being tipped,
and a collection OF 10 special menus
combination meals ranging In price
from Is to 80 cents, have been arrang-
ed to provide relief for the people who
cannot afford the a la carte prices that
Konen has charged. These la carte
prices are TO be under the supervision
OF Commissioner Hurlbut. II he wishes
10 alter them. He would not state
Thursday morning whether he would
do this or not.
II will think about It, remarked
Hurlbut with a sly twinkle in his eye
And the park commissioner Is pa
tient thinker
For persons who do not fancy the
combination meals. the old prices will
therefore. probably prevail These in
clude such bargains as oxtail soup AT
20 cents an order five cents extra II
served with a meat orderl. string
beans at 20 cents a dish. etc.
Aid. Shapland began the discussion
in the committee meeting Thursday
morning, by saying that people com
suggested that the park commissioner
prepare a bin of fare at popular prices
and invite bids on that basis. Straw
berries and like seasonable articles
could be left of the bill of fare and
sold by the proprietor at his own
prices. Aid Freiwald said that this
would require giving bond to insure
quality.
"A surety bond for a hamburger
steak?" inquired Aid. Heineman.
Snaplanu tnen declared tndt Lessee
Konen had violated his contract by
selling some articles at higher prices
than specified Aid. Freiwald declared
the city was under moral obligation
to give Konen another lease since the
casino had been turned over to the
lessee before II was completed, and
while its surroundings were mud
piles. so that his first season had been
a failure.
Aid. Thompson argued for city oper
alton. but he was opposed by Aid
Heating and Shnpland. who declared
that waste and trouble would result
On vote. Thompson was the only one
for city operation. Then the vote was
taken on the proposition Of giving 10
men the lease.