The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-05
CITY OWNERSHIP
FEASIBLE PLAN
CARL K. SCHMIDT.
Prominent Business Man Answer!
Objections To Municipality Con-
trolled Traction Lines.
CARL e. SCHMIDT.

That municipal ownership of street
railways is not only feasible but Is the
only logical solution of the present
situation Is the belief of Carl Z
Schmidt, prominent business man and
one of the members OF the Pingree
street railway commission of ten
years ago.
Il believe that campaign OF edu'
cation Is needed. however" says Mr.
Schmidt. The conservative, sensible
business element, which should be for
municipal ownership, must be aroused
to the real conditions. The private
ownership side has been busy all these
years while our side has not been SC
active. In consequence. there are
many who, IL the question were prop.
erly placed before them, would be for
city ownership, are now inclined TO be
the other way.
Il know that that Is the case with
men whom | meet personally. They
are more interested In the liquor Ques.
| ton. the tariff and other things and
do not think Of municipal ownership
There is no reason why the city
should not be able to buy the lines
and no reason why II cannot profitably
operate them, although whether we
shall merely own the lines and let @
| private company operate the cars, OF
own and operate both municipality is q
thing for the voters to determine
| first.
Bonds based on the physical prop
erty Of the lines should be good, since
the buyers would be assured that the
property was worth the face of the
bonds and would be kept up In value
With a security franchise as a further
| inducement, the bonds should go al
par easily. l think that large
amount would be sold right here in
Detroit. Ten years ago l had offers
of par for the bonds that were to be
issued to buy the lines.
"As to the d. U. r. selling, think
that IL my business were running
down and a cash buyer were to come
along, | would not hesitate about sell
ing. That is the position of the street
railway company now. But 1t Is up &c
1.-THE people to assist there. for any sign
OF wavering will be taken as encour
agement by the ID. u. r. and make
them hold on to the last legal limit
THE talk OF politics in the opera
ton of the lines should not brighten
anyone. do not see that there Is
graft or mismanagement In our fire
department, or our public lighting de
partment. Our water board IL q sue
cess. We choose our best citizens fol
our commissions, and we would have
good men on this commission. | have
! changed my mind about one thing In
the past few years and that Is the
commission plan. Once l thought ina,
the one-man, responsible head was
better than board Of commissioners
but believe now that the commission
| Is the better.
I'VE would not want to deprive the
conductor or motorman of his vote
| BY all means no. We would want those
men to take the same interest as any
other citizens. But we would not
want men appointed to place simply
because OF their political influence OF
activity and I do not think that thai
would occur often. | know that mer
are given jobs now on account OF pol
itics and we would probably have
rather less OF that under municipa
ownership than under the present re
gime."