The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-14
HARD SHEDDING
FOR MOORE PLAN
Mayor and Aldermen Seem To Think
Municipal Ownership Charter
Amendment Is Too Drastic.

That the supporters OF the plan fol
municipa, ownership and operation %
street railways drawn up hv George
William Moore and advocated by th'
Citizens committee OF municips
ownership are likely TO have havl
time to get their cfarte: amendment
before the people Is becoming evident
Mayor Brietmeyey favors municipal
ownership as an alternative in case
the d. u. r. will not accept reason
able franchise. the aldermen general
~ favor a vote on an amendment
which would give the city the pow CT
TO embark on municipal ownership
AZ that be deemed advisable at any
I time. But neither the mayor no:
many OF the aldermen like the lde'1
OF a mandatory charter amendment
which would compel municipa! oWnel'
ship no matter what other proposition
might be open
III the council refuse TO submit the
Moore amendment AT special eie'-
ton in june or July, along Win o'ue'
proposed amendments, then the nun
cipal ownership advocates must at-
pend upon initiative petitions, winch
are already in circulation, 10 force
vote on the kind o. charter amend
ment they want tn Moore plan.
And a vote cannot De forced oV
initiative before the general election
OF next November. There Is tAus
possibility that. unless FRANCHISE
is submitted and adopted previously.
the question OF municipal ownership
~ in the next
municipal election.
Should the signatures OF 10000 e1eo'
tors be secured 20 a petition Tor suo'
mission of the question. the petltloH
will 20 20 City Clerk Nichols. ne
aldermen must thea submit the
amendment at the next election. IN
case OF their refusal, they could hc
compelled by mandamus OF the courts
TO take such action. according 10 Gov
poraticn Counsel Rally.
But there is still one obstacle 4eil.
ANY charter amendment must 90 10
the governor of the state for MS Sp
prevail. Should Gov. Warner refuse
to approve OF il, the amendment
would be dead unless the city council
by a two-thirds majority, overrode tie
governor and ordered submission 81
the amendment II is hardly llkei.
that a two-thirds vote could be mad
in the council I'm such a contingency
Municipal ownership advocates 20
gard il as very unlikely that GOV.
Warner will take stand in opposi-
ton 10 submission ol the question o.
municipal ownership plan 70 the
people.
There is probability, howeNef,
that. in case the advocates or the
Moore plan insist on the submission
or the amendment just as II stands.
the council may prepare and submit
another municipal ownership plan by
which it would be optional with the
city government 70 purchase the
street railways or not TO do so. This
could be submitted prior TO the Nc
vember election.
The law compelS the council 10 sab
NIT any question proposed by init a
tive at the next regular or special
election and the special charter cleo
ton proposed by the council Will come
before any initiative proposal could
be forced.
While the Moore plan was left WITH
Corporation Counsel Hally for his
opinion as 10 its consonance win
the home rule b.ll. he was never
able to give il time and read VIC
through but once. hurriedly In any
event, the council will probably ask
him TO consider the amendment.
thoroughly before taking action.