The Detroit times., 1910-08-02
EARLY HEARING IN
CITY OWNERSHIP
CASE SOUGHT
Citizens Committee Urges Council To
Use All Means Possible To Have
Supreme Court Pass on Matter
~ Quickly.
Complains That Only Three of Six
People Fighting Moore Plan Are
Detroit Electors.

The citizens municipal ownership
committee. by Samuel T. Penna. vice
chairman. and Thomas l.. Dalton. sec.
retary. has sent letter to the council
urging action looking to an early de.
cision by the supreme court In the
suit brought by J. L. Hudson and 9th.
sfs 10 annul, the Moore public owner.
snip plan. The letter follows:
Tor many years a considerable num-
y. our citizens have been DESTROYS
municipal street car sys-
go .r Detroit. About IL years ago
ra,,,s purchased the present street
AWAY lines. but the supreme court
OF the state heid-thHt under the ola
constitution then In force. the citv had
no power to either own or onara,o
Our people then began an agitation To-
.n,., change In the contribution as
wou,o enable them to secure n muni
ciPsI street car system
Two years ago constitutional CON
rs.uon was held and certain OF orr
n.r. az TOOK an active and influential
M, preparing a new constitution
wnich was adopted by a large mator'
ny and which conferred upon our civ
we power TO own and operate street
80 s as soon as authorized by a vote
OF the people. "
Acting under our new constitution
ana the law passed by the state to give
enect. plan for city ownership and
bbpr",on OF our street car system has
oeeh prepared and 1879 electors OF
our city have petitioned for a vote
.neteon This petition was fIed with
fTp ba honorable body on March 22. 1910.
IMAM four months I'm which TO inform
themselves as to the merits OF the plan.
tnder the law. the plan is to be sub
lar or special election after the exniys
tlon OF 30 days from the time OF fling.
and your honorable body proceeded
promptIy by calling n special elaction
DE heId on Aug. Is. next. in order
known. 10
Very recently six persons, only III zee
OF Wnom are electors OF Detroit filed
petition In the circuit court TO pre-
vent the election. After n full and fair
argument OF the case upon It's merits.
anelr peution was dismissed and their
application TO enjoln the election re-
FUSED. Thereafter these six persons by
an ex parte application, secured from
the supreme court an Injunction pro-
order OF the court"
These six persons could have brought
their suit at any time after March 20.
islu Dut they waited until the court
had adjourned. and nearly ali the
judges thereof were away on their va
cations. An early vote on the question
PUBIC necessity because
every one In Detroit Is dissatisied with
thespresent street car conditions. Your
hoqorab,e body, the mayor. every De-
troU citizen and even the ID. ". r.
itself ar unanimous in declaring that
the present conditions are intolerable
and outrageous. The plan proposed is
the only plan before the people, and
would. in the opinion OF many of our
citizens. settle the street car problem
forever. Just as we have already settled
our water. fire department and electric
light questions
To vote is. In this country, one OF
the highest acts of sovereignty. and the
elector should not be lightly delayed
in the exercise OF that sovereign right.
Nothing but the supreme court injunc-
ton now stands between the people
and their ballot.
We. therefore. ask your honorable
body In view OF the foregoing facts to
employ all proper means to secure as
early a hearing and as prompt a de-
cision from the supreme court as may
be consistent with the proper admin
istration OF Justice.
Your petitioner presents this petition
on It's own behalf and on behalf OF
said 1879 petitioning electors.