The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-30
DUR. DECLARES IT
WILL NOT PAY
/ MORE RENT
has Been Handing Over $500 a Day
Just To Avoid Friction, Presi-
dent Hutchins Says, But Will
Not Stand For Increase.
Statement Reiterates That Tax Bur-
dens Prevent Company From Pro-
ceeding With Extensions.

In communication to the common
council. received in City Clerk Nichols
ONCE. Thursday noon. the Detroit
United Railway through President
Hutchins, serves notice that IL will not
pay the additional rental demanded by
the council for the use OF streets In
which the latter claims the franchises
have expired. The company does not
admit any liability for the $500 day
which 1t has been paying but says It
mas handed the money over TO avoid
further friction. and will continue TO
DO so for the present. The full text
OF the communication follows:
The Honorable. the Common Council,
OF the City OF Detroit. Michigan:
Gentlemen-We have received official
notice OF two resolutions adopted by
your honorable body, one under date
or June ID, 1910. requiring. for the rea-
sons stated therein. the Detroit United
I othe city. and one Under date OF June
II. 1910. requiring the company for
IKE reasons to make further payment
OF Woo per day.
We are compelled to advise you that
we deny the statement contained In
the preamble In each resolution TO the
effect that the rights OF the company
havo expired on the streets mentioned
In said resolution. We are also ad-
Vised that the requirements to pay said
sums OF money are Illegal for other
reasons. We are. therefore, compelled
10 advise you that we must decline to
pay said sums.
Perhaps II may not be Inappropriate
10 say TO you that the increase OF the
nd valorem tax which has been made
this year, added TO the excessive de-
mands now being made, has prevented
for borrowing the money necessary TO
make all the extensions required by
your recent resolutions which we ac-
cepted. These resolutions, with other
necessary improvements and better
ments which we have contemplated,
call for the expenditure Of nearly two
million dollars. The addition OF such
burdens as you seek to impose upon us
and the threat to add still others. puts
u beyond our power TO raise the money
TOT the purposes above Indicated.
the resolution regarding the payment
OF $500 per day, we then advised you
that We did not regard the requirement.
avoiding litigation and further friction
between US, and without waving our
legal rights. we have paid that sum.
pay It, under the conditions named In
our letter advising you that we would.
This was with the belief that no furo
Their burdens would be added.
We DO not believe that you have
fully considered the necessary effect OF
the imposition OF these heavy financial
fore, respectfully call your attention
to IL.
We believe we should aEai ncall your
attention to the failure OF the city TO
properly maintain the track and paving
foundations and the paving on the
lines known as the Detroit Railway
system. and In this connection we beg
to call your attention 10 our letter to
his honor the mayor, concerning this
matter. This company is at all times
ready to cooperate with your honor
able body in bringing about better
state OF affairs concerning these and
all other street railway lines I'm this
city. consistent with reasonable pro-
lection of the property In it's charge,
Within the next few days we will
give 10 the public a statement respect
Ing this company's undertakings in
volving the outlay OF much capital for
additions and betterments during the
coming year.
Respectfully yours,
J. c. HUTCHINS,
President.
Detroit June 30, 1910.