The Detroit times., 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 foI
municipal ownership aud operation OF
street railways drawn up hv George
William Moore ana advocated by the
Citizens committee on mumclbaI
ownership are likely 10 have hard
time to get their charter amendment
before the people is becoming evident
Mayor Brietmeyer fayOrs municipal
ownership as an alternative In case
the ID. u. r. will not accept reason
able franchise; the aldermen general
~ favor a vote OF an amendment
which would give the city the pow ei
10 embark on municipal ownership
if that be deemed advisable at ary
time But neither the mayor no.
many Of the aldermen like the idea
of mandatory charter amendment
which woid compel municipal owner
ship no matter what other proposition
might be open
II the council refuse 10 submit the
Moore amendment at special cleo
ton in June or July, along with other
Proposed amendments, then the NUM-
cipal ownership advocates must ie
pend upon initiative petitions. which
are already i'm circulation. TO force a
vote on the kind ot charter amend
ment they want Tho Moore plan.
And vote cannot be forced by
initiative before the general election
of next November There is thus
la possibility that. Unless a franchise
Is submitted ami adopted previously
the question OF municipal ownership
will be the dominant one in the next
municipal election.
Should the signatures OF $4,000 elcc-
tors be secured TO petition for sub
mission OF the question. the petition
will go 20 City Cle~k Nichols. The
aldermen must then submit the
amendment at the next election. in
case of their refusal, they could ho
compelled by mandamus OF the courts
10 take such action. according 10 Cor
roration Counsel Rally.
But there is 3till one obstacle left.
Any charter amendment must go 10
the governor of the state for has ap
proval. Should COY Warner refuse
To approve OF IL. the amendment
would be- dead unless the city council
hv a twothirds majority, OVERRIDE the
Governor and urdc red submission oi
the amendment Ii is hardly ike"
that tWo-thirds vote could be naa
H. the council ia such contingent +.
Municipal ownership advocates 70
lard il As very unlikely that Gov.
Warner VIII take stand IN opposi-
ton to submission al the question of
municipal ownership plan TO the
people.
There IS a PROBABILITY, howeyeh
that. in case the advocates Of IN"
Moore plan insist on the submission
oi the amendment just as II stands,
che council may prepare and submit
another municipal ownership plan by
which it would be optional with the
city government jo purchase Ih"
street railways or not To do -. Thls
could be submitted prior TO the NJ
vember election.
The law compels the council to sub
NIT am question proposed by iniua-
1--WE AT the next regular or special
election and the special charter elc".
tion proposed 10y the council will conc
before any initiative proposal could
be forced
While the Moore plan was left with
Corporation Comse' ilally for his
opinion as to it, cOnsOuanCe WIN
the home rule bail. he was never
able to give 1t time. and read ~
through Tut once hurriedly. In an
event. the council will probably osk
him 10 consider the omendmeu.
thoroughly beiore taking action.