The Detroit times., 1910-12-22
BANCROFT AND
VAN HUsAN CLASH
Lie Passed in Hot Meeting Of Fran
chise Committee-No Action Taken
On D. U. R. Appraisal Matter.

IF you want me TO go before 9
| board OF arbitration and defend my
report, and leave 1t to the honor OF
| the common council as TO compensa
| ton. | will be willing to do it," said
Engineer Frederick T. Bancroft in the
course of a four-hour session OF the
council committee on franchise
| Thursday, relative to obtaining q
valuation as a step toward a settle
ment Of the street car question.
IL only ask that | have the official
backing of the common council and
the assistance OF the legal depart
ment of the city" continued Bar
croft.
The meeting commenced at TO- 80
and lasted until we'll along into the
afternoon. Bitter personalities pass
ed between Mr.. Bancroft and E. c.
Van Husan, former chairman Of the
appraisal committee of the commit
tee of fifty, and Clyde l. Webster, at
torney for the fifty"
Edwin A. Burch, a member OF the
appraisal committee OF the fifty,
read formal statement, in which he
Endorsed Bancroft. He said there had
been no objection to the Bancroft ap-
praisal except from the d. u. r.
Van Husan the nbitterly criticised
Bancroft, and said that the reason
that the engineer had refused to APP
pear before the board of arbitration
was that the late Judge Tayler, of
Cleveland, was member Of the
board and that Bancroft had been
obliged to admit to the judge in the
Cleveland arbitration that some state
ments as to his alleged experience
were untrue.
Bancroft refused to take the COM
mittee into his confidence, and re-
fused to give information that was
asked for" said Van Husan. HE
said that he had been unable to get
data from the d. u. r., and after
got the data for him, found that he
had habit In his possession for wekes
and was using this as q subterfHge
for delay. | wish that he would make
his report, but he never will, under
any conditions"
Il kept my word with the commit
tee Of fifty, but every effort was made
TO prevent me finishing my work, be-
cause my results were too low a
figure for the ID. u. r." said Bar
croft in reply.
He said that Van Husan was forced
to resign from the committee on ap-
praisal. This, Van Husan holly brand
ed as lie.
Barcroft's only supporter on the
council committee was Aid. Gutman,
who declared that il would be better
to pay Mr.. Bancroft TO defend his
appraisal than to pay another en-
gineer to complete 1t and defend his
work
Id. Gilman asked Bancroft why he
quit the appraisal committee.
They were through with their
work. said Bancroft.
Attorney Webster made a statement
Of more than an hours length as to
the dealings Of the committee of fifty
with Bancroft. He declared that Bar
croft would never complete his work.
Webster wished to have a board of
three engineers take up the work.
One engineer would represent the city
and one the railroad company, -whilo
the third should be appointed by these
two. He said that many items would
be agreed upon, and only few would
be left TO thresh out. He said that
this board could make a complete APP
praisal in g. days. or could complete
Barcrofts work from his published
book in 81 days.
Webster accused Bancroft Of har-
RAISING and blocking the committee
and himself whenever he could. This
Bancroft denied.
L. A. Burch returned to the defense
OF Bancroft.
IF Bancroft was in earnest, why
didn't he stick with the committee?"
asked Aid. Gilman. 81 would like TO
ask II Mr.. Burch has any proposal TO
make"
Il would propose" said Mr.. Burch.
that the council appoint commits
sion to supervise the ID. u. r.; that
the company be asked to put into Of
feet a rate Of FIVE tickets for Is cents
during certain hours OF the day for
limited period. and that IL this rate
does not pay. the fare be increased
until Il does paw"
The committee adjourned to meet