The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-28
EXPERT BAREFOOT
WILL NOT DEFEND
HIS REPORT
With No Support From the Commit.
tee of Fifty, He Doesn't Feel
Called Upon To Confront D. U.
RS Battery of Legal Talent.
Ofhcial, Now Stunned by His Bosses,
Wants the Public's
Support.

frederick G. Bancroft. consulting en-
eineer. former railroad man and mem.
Der OF American Society OF Civil En-
kineers. having finished his appraisal
OF the physical property Of the ID. u
IA snug years chore, by-the-by-is
getting acquainted with some of hts
teiiow-citizens. He knows the ap'
praisal committee Of the fifty" Of
which Joseph Boyer is chairman and
true'biue. and he has had their stanch
cooperation and encouragement right
along, but he has never had the honor
OF the acquaintance, contact with or
approval OF the committee of fifty. He
feels sure of the existence of such q
body, for certain Of its spokesman d.
rectly after the distant coterie was
created. took him to the summit of tile
delectable mountains and pictured
what brief and glorious diversion II
would be for a prideful citizen like
himself 20 invite some OF his engineer
Ing comrades here and find out wh3.
the street railway property was worth.
Besides the fame attaching TO this
Holiday pastime. something was said
about an automobile ride about the
worlds fairest city. followed by a
banquet
Well. the committee of fifty has the
report. Bancroft is sure of that, for
he got wire from the mayor at Buff
falo that same was received In good
condition. He also has an invitation
10 appear at a meeting OF the commit
tee of fifty next Monday evening In the
council chamber and explain to this
platoon of corporation lawyers there
assembled why she ID. u. X. refuses
20 grow wildly enthusiastic over his
valuations; also why said valuations
should not be literally inflated, and
finally. why a milestone should not
he attached to the Bancroft neck and
he be dropped of the dock.
But no banquet.
Those things convince the appraiser
that there is committee OF fifty and
that the committee of fifty has tho
bound volume embracing his years
labors. But he doesn't think he'll go
to that meeting Monday night as To-
fender Of something the committee or
fifty does not appear TO be eager 10
defend: leastwise, outside of the ap-
praisal committee. they have given no
overwhelming evidence the past year
that an honest, accurate and impartial
appraisal Is what they want Plenty
OF evidence might be adduced that this
Is what they didn't want, tried 10 head
off and oought TO influence first and
later to punish the experts who per-
sisted In getting together trustworthy
abulations and satisfies. So why
should he undertake to convince his
clients (supposed to be representing
the people) and az the same time with
stand sirslehanjed the onslaught Ut
tile corporations legal battery, with
Cut any sign from those he serves as
TO what Use Ia TO be made of the APP
pIaisal and without any brief from the
n. U. r. covering the points to be con-
troverted.
'They have the Judge. the jury and
q galaxy OF lawyers primed with the
points they have been preparing for
weeks to break down the integrity or
our figures, to which they had instan'
taneous access uron completion. Then
they send a 'hurry.up' call for me to
come over and take care OF my side
without my indication of how these
aaBfaisals are to be considered,
Ehether with reference to continued
private ownership or public ownership
"a matter affecting the total to the
extent OF millions of dollars.
Il go over and find my supposed
clients and the opposition in confed-
eracy to damn me; or, at the best, they
DC not obligate themselves to make
definite use OF the work assigned to
us and carried out by group OF the
most capable and conscientious men
In the country. they may simply say,
It's been pleasant day-good
night"
II was in getting acquainted with
some of his fellow-citizens Friday
night that Mr.. Bancroft outlined some
of the sorrows of untrammelled pub
lie service as given herewith.
II was rather a dinner given to
enable q dozen gentlemen to get ac-
uuainted with the engineer who APP
pears to have been the forgotten man
In the committed of fifty's settle
ment" OF the street railway problem.
The place was Alt Heidelberg
which was logical, as Mr.. Bancroft
and his collaborators seemed to feel
that any suggestion OF remoteness
from Detroit Just now was peculiarly
acceptable.
I'VE haven't had that banquet yet. >
nc observed quizzically. I'VE have
lust been condemned to the desert for
q year without food or water" Tho
experts brought from a distance re.
ceived their money finally, $17.500
having been provided for work that
cost $4,000 In Cleveland. Mr.. Bar
croft is minus years time. $500 In
cash and the moral support of the
body who told him to bring forth q