The Detroit times., 1910-05-19
WEBSTER SAYS go
IS UP AGAINST It
Barcroft's Figures Ineligible Only
To Himself, and New Appraisal
Would Cost at Least $4,000.


their jeans TO the extent OF $4,000 or
500. 900 to defray the expense OF max
| ing new appraisal OF the Detroit
United Railway properties. or unless
the court of arbitration will recede
from It's original position and permit
the committee OF fifty TO submit tho
Barefoot appraisal as IL stands, with
out oral proof II looks as though the
arbitration would be called of. At
| torney Clyde l. Webster, for the fifty
admits that the committee Is right
up against II" and it's now up TO the
executive subcommittee and the
mayor TO find a way out OF the
dilemma.
| Mayor Breitmeyer, apparently. -
not the least perturbed.
Well find way out, I'll see TO
that" ne said cheerfully, Wednesday
noon, after he had been closeted with
Attorney Webster all morning. I'VE
are not going to let this thing fail
now. 1 shall make a further effort
TO have this appraisal reduced TO its
simplest terms and II any further
money is needed | think | can secure
that, too
In spite OF the mayors attitude. the
| situation from the outside looks any
thAlg but promising for an early SET.
tlement, which is the one thing de-
sired by the administration, for on
that settlement Mayor Brejtmeyer ex-
poets To make his next campaign.
IF we have to make new ap-
praisal II will take many weeks" said
! Webster. before his visit to the
| mayor.
The present situation grows out OF
the fact that Engineer Frederick w.
Walker the new director of appraisal.
and Attorney Webster have discover
ed that, without Barcroft's aid, they
cannot go before the arbitration board
and present testimony as to how the
various items were made up. Only
Bancroft and one or two OF the men
nearest him, under whose immediate
supervision the compilation was made.
can give the desired information, and
they have refused to take any part
In the proceedings on the ground,
principally, that the arbitration board
Is not an official body and that the
whole scheme is being put through
In the interest of the ID. U. r.
Webster claims that all but two or
three OF the experts who worked un-
Ger Bancroft have, over their sigma
lures, pledged themselves TO come
here and defend the appraisal. ami
have passed resolutions urging Bar
croft TO do the came. This was all
done In a meeting OF the experts held
In Chicago. last Sunday. and In this
connection tits reported that the men
gathered for this meeting on the rel.
resentation that Bancroft was to be
present when, as matter of fact, he
was not even asked Mr.. Webster.
however, admits that these men will
come only on the condition that their
compensation be guaranteed In all
vance. From inside sources II Is learn
ed that the guarantee calls for min
imum sum OF $500 for each man.
This is on the basis OF $50 day for
the work done In Detroit and SIS a
day for the work done at home.
Without Barcroft's cooperation 1t
will be necessary for these men, be.
fore they can give testimony. to go
over the ground again. and this work,
Webster estimates, will cost between
$4,000 and $4,000, which. of course.
the city can hardly be expected to pay.
Friends of Bancroft take exception
to the statement that all the en-.
gineers with the exception of two or
three have pledged their services 20
the committee. They counted no less
than Is, Wednesday morning. who are
with Bancroft to the last ditch and
gave the committee but four or five.
The men who rendered Bancroft the
most valuable service are with him to
man. Among these are w. K. Rich
a.. ,,,l sin
tendent and engineer, respectively. OF
the Toledo street railway system
When the manager OF the road. at the
request of the fifty" asked them TO
help out the committee, they asked the
manager to let Mr.. Bancroft state his
case. Bancroft did SO, and the mana
ger Immediately afterwards notified
Mayor Breitmeyer that his men were
free to do as they pleased. Richards
and Sanderson agreed to stick with
Bancroft. The very next day, 1t Is
said, prominent ID. U. r. official
made a flying trip to Toledo to see the
manager OF the lines, but without
result.
In the absence of Mr.. Bancroft
man who has been closely associated
with him from the outset expressed
himself freely on the situation,
Wednesday, without permitting the
use of his name.
This appraisal has from the first
had for its one object the full and
fair treatment OF both the city and the
company" he said. I'VE are just as
strong as ever for that purpose, but
the Webster Walker scheme absolutely
takes away all fairness from the re-
port. We have been fighting the
Vaccinations OF the d. u. r. from the
start. and always in the interest OF
the city. There, is no reason TO de-
fend' the Bancroft appraisal before an
illegal body; nor can any action or
that body have any effect on the final
outcome of the present street railway
agitation.
"Mr Breitmeyer was elected Re.
publican mayor on the understanding
that he would settle the street railway
question, and a council. also Repub-
lican. was elected to help him &C.
complish this. The mayor has made
so many mistakes that he is today the
most discredited official in the city.