The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-17
MAYOR, UP AGAINST
IT,TURNs TOO.U.R.
FOR SUGGESTIONS
What Are You Willing To Do Under
No Franchise Plant" Is Tenor
of Message Executive Sends
To President Hutchins.
Won't Admit He's Dumped Webster
Ordinance, Declaring Hes Still
Working On II.
Mr.. J. c. Hutchins.
Pres. Detroit United Ry..
DatrOif Mich

Mr.. J c. Hutchins.
Pres. Detroit United Ry..
Detroit. Mich
Dear Sir. | am in receipt OF
yeur letter OF June l3, answering
my inquiry OF previous date. In
your letter YOU say: 1t Is my be-
lief that the ideal relations be-
tween a street railway company
and a municipality would be that
there should lie no fixed term
franchise at all"
am inclined 10 believe that
there may be some force in this
suggestion. always providing that
the company which is operating a
street railway. system without
definite contract which stipulates
just what IL shall do. makes an
honest EFFORT TO conduct. its lines
for the convenience OF its patrons
rather than trying 10 see how lit
tie service can be given in return
for the fares collected.
have always believed that the
people Of Detroit are as honest In
their intentions toward public
service corporation as they are in
their private dealings with their
fellow men. and are willing 10 pay
the hSA value OF the service they
receive but they are not willing
70 pay q five-cent fare for service
which is worth less.
The statement quoted from
lAst 80 - ,rAf-
cate that you have something 10
suggest in the way OF an aSree
nent for the operation OF street
railways In Detroit without a def
mite term franchise. | should like
10 know what this suggestion Is
and what your company would be
willing 10 do under such plan of
sions OF your lines. hours for
workingmen's tickets, universal
transfers and rates of fare during
other than workingmen's hours.
II YOU will give me an outline
OF your ideas on these matters.
will be glad 10 submit IL TO the
common council as a suggestion
for the temporary operation Of
cars at least, even II IL should not
be such as I would be satisfied 10
advocate as the basis Of a per-
manent settlement,
am, yours truly.
PHILIP BREITMEYER.
June Is, 1910. Mayor.
Driven TO desperation, Mayor Bret
10 ~ DoI1.. hi
lands as far as the street car settl,
nent Is concerned. In a letter {
Jere c. Hutchins. OF the 1
:. r.. Thursday. which is reproduce
bove. the mayor says 10 the Detroi
United in substance:
IF you have anything TO offer. lie
$ have IL"
Mr.. Hutchins is asked TO submit |
as a basis for a plan 4
e submitted. in turn. TO the council
,r the temporary operation of the
rect cars. pending a permanent set
ement He intimates that. IL thu
arrangement works on
satisfactory, it may be made perman
nj.
Does your action mean that the
'ebster ordinance will be shelyed p
lie mayor was asked.
Not at all" he replied. LAS my let
,r states. what I am after now Is {
arrangement. | am still
orking on the Webster plan anC
ay have something TO give out II
lat connection within a day or two
We can make some temporary ar
,rgement pending the adoption o
ie Webster plan so much the better.
Notwithstanding the mayors as
srtions 10 the contrary, his letter 4
II. Hutchins Is interpreted In thu
~ hall as being the first move 10
ard the dumping OF the Webster or
nance. which has had rather rougl
edding owing TO the great difficult!
Iperienced in arriving at valuation
the ID. L. r. properties that will b.
20 both the city and thu
Impany. The committee OF fift!
ractically washed its hands of thu
hole affair several days ago. wheI
acknowledged its inability to pro
led with the arbitration bearings
lthout the assistance OF Enginee
arcroft or unless the city should de
de 10 put up the money for new
Dpraisal. The ordinance fathered b.
he committee seems destined TO NEE
he same fate as the appraisal pre-