The Detroit times., 1910-08-19

protests against the Atty alleys, dilapi-
dated pavements. the ruined boulevard
and its land drives are heard on every
hand IL Is time for the taxpayers who
are thus heavily paying the shot" to
consider whether they are getting ade-
Quate returns for their contribution to
the public treasury.
/ have always favored economy In
public office. / don't believe in JOY
riding automobiles for mayors. for
which the workingmen toiling in fac
tory and foundry. pay with their
AS TO the street railway situation, 1
have this TO say: propose To vote for
municipal ownership OF the street rail-
same. AS 1 View 1t at present. our citi-
zens have no other alternative. The
city and the company are dead-locked
The company is the city's tenant The
company are unable to get together on
the terms OF a new lease. Meanwhile,
the tenant insists on staying in the
premises on Its own terms and refuses
TO pay the rent fixed by the landlord
the city Such a situation Is intoler-
able The only way Is to eject the de-
faulting tenant. and as the premises
must be occupied for the public use. let
the landlord move in and occupy them
for the public use.
This is the situation as IL now pre-
sents itself. II the city wins the Hally
ordinance case. as / expect IL will. the
city will be In a better position to ex-
act terms. Meanwhile. let the city pre-
pare TO assume the necessary duty Of
transporting the public
While these matters are pending q
company Is knocking at our doors Of
fering three-cent fares, the ownership
OF the tracks by the city. and merely
seeking a day-to-day permission TO run
into the city. For some reason. the
M u r. has been shut out of the city
TO date Its proposition to let Mr..
Hally draw the agreement between Il
and the city sounds fair, and 1t seems
to me that the city ought not TO turn
down a three-cent line. particularly as
II gives a much needed north and south
extension on the west side, and also
places the city In position to own
the tracks, and to terminate the agree
ment at any time.
+ call attention. also, to the delay in
passing on the ordinance governing the
heating and ventilattng OF street cars.
n our cars are cold and sinking this
winter, our townsmen must place tho
blame on the aldermen who will not
even consider the remedial ordinance
submitted.
There are other phases of municipal
government. worthy OF attention. such
as the water supply and civil service
reform / shall have something TO say
about these later on.
matter OF great qualification TO me
fs that the gentleman whom i had the
Manor TO appoint as corporation coun-
sci. and whom / expect TO reappoint II
am elected mayor. has been most
zaalous and efncfent champion OF the
citv's rights in the street railway con-
troversy during the past two years
Mr.. Hally deserves well OF this COM
munity.
In view OF this statement coming
simultaneously with one from former
Nayor George T. Codd. declining tc
rim for the Republican nomination
the issue is squarely drawn between
Mr. Thompson and Mayor Breitmeyer
for II is not likely that DR.. J. fk Car
stems will enter the race now. Thu.
n will be necessary for Mayor Brett
never not only to combat Mr.. Thomp
son's various charges OF incompe
tency. but he will also be obliged Il
debt out with his Democratic oppon
emf the question OF municipal owner
ship. which appears to be very live
one with the citizens of Detroit jus
now.
Codd gives business reasons for de
clining to enter the race. He says:
For over a year past, I.have been i'm
nortuned by a great many OF the lead
ina Republicans OF the city, and lead
\ ing business men, TO again become ,
candidate for mayor Tine confidence
in me that these requests imply, hai
been very gratifying, but / have givei
answer 10 each that could not con
slider the matter. In that my persona