The Detroit times., 1910-06-02
MAYOR WILL Put
TRACTION MATTER
UP TO COUNCIL
Aldermen viii Likely Be Asked 10
Take Up Settlement Plans Where
Fifty Is Compelled To
Abandon Them.
Breitmeyer, Chairman Eddy and At
torney Webster Engage in Long
Conference on Middle.

Mayor Breitmeyer will send q
communication to the common coun-
Gil next Tuesday evening with regard
TO the street railway question. Al
though he will not at this time dis
close the nature of his message. II II
regarded as not improbable that he
will ask the council to take up the
work OF the committee of fifty where
that body has had to leave OF with
II.
There was a conference In the
mayors office, Thursday mornings at
which Mayor Breitmeyer discussed
the situation with Chairman Frank
w. EDDY OF the committee OF nifty.
and Attorney Clyde I. Webster. These
three were appointed a special COM
mittee by the executive committee OF
the fifty" some time ago when the
arbitration proceedings were stopped
owing to the discovery that the Bar
croft report could not be used as q
basis for valuation Of the ID. u. r.
physical property except with the CO.
operation of Engineer Frederick T.
Bancroft.
At that time It was decided thai.
to 20 ahead with the work. in the
absence of Bancroft, 1t would be-
necessary for a complete reappraisal
to he made by Frederick T.. Walker
the "fyty's" and other engineers A
number OF alternative plans were
considered but none adopted.
II Is possible that Bancroft might
be willing to act were the arbitra-
tion proceedings to take place under
the auspices OF the council. II be
were not willing to do this. the re-
sponsibility for reappraisal or
whatever else may be necessary to
go ahead toward a settlement would
lie with the council.
There will be nothing given out
with regard to this communication UNI
til Monday. at the earliest, and pos
sibly nothing until II is read In the
council meeting" stated Mayor Brett.
meyer, Thursday noon.
The mayor and hts advisers are
convinced that 1t will not do TO have
the committee of fifty traction ordi-
nance submitted TO an advisory vote
OF the people without the valuation
included. The time Is growing short
for the making OF reappraisal as q
basis for arbitration. IT is possible
that the whole matter may be put up
| to the council.
Friday the committee on charter
and city legislation will meet to dis
cuss Aid. Fields municipal owner
ship charter amendment. IL this il
adopted, II will be submitted as q
substitute for the George William
Moore plan which has already been
put in line of submission by means OF
initiative petitions. The Field amend
ment differs from that OF Moore in
that 1t provides for the appointment,
instead of election. of commissions
and provides that the street railway
commissioners be bonded and their
accounts controlled and audited the
same as those of the city depart
ments, with the exception OF the
water board. now are. II does not
make the purchase OF the lines COM
pulsory, as does the Moore plan.
II am for municipal ownership. but
I am against the Moore plan" de-
clares Aid Trevor. chairman of the
charter and city legislation commit
tee. 1T Is no good. That plan re-
quires that commissioners be elected
| every two years, thus throwing the
commission into politics constantly.
| once the commissioners have hold
| they are given absolute power. II
is made mandatory that the council
and board of estimates and council
authorize bonds Of the value of one
per cent OF the city's assessed valua-
| ton and the commissioners have the
| handling OF this fund and OF millions
to be realized from the sale OF other
street railway bonds without any
check or hindTance. They may make
any kind of contracts they wish,
spend money as they please, run
things absolutely without the control
OF the mayor, council or other city
Continued On Page Eighth