The Detroit times., 1910-04-06
ANOTHER HARPOON
READY FOR D. j. R.
Aid. Garvey Proposes Repeal of
Three-Cent Lines Franchises If
Service Isn't Improved.

wide scope in the council Tuesday
night, that the aldermen hesitated To
take any action on them The resolu-
ton recites the conditions of poor SER
vice prevailing on the Crosstown.
Fourteenth and herman lines. and the
ordinance is for the purpose OF repeal
ing the franchises for these lines If
the service Is not improved within 80
days.
Passage of this ordinance would
mean wiping out the franchise right
for all of the three-cent car lines ex-
cept possibly the Harper-ave line,
which is not mentioned specifically In
the ordinance. but might be covered
by the repeal nevertheless. Corpor
alton Counsel Hally drew up both reso-
luton and ordinance at the request OF
Aid Garvey.
Aid Vernon. Gutman, Ellis. Fret
wad. Watson and Allan objected To
hasty passage of any street railway
legislation and had both measures sent
10 the franchise committee which will
probably meet next Tuesday morning
While the Carney resolution is in
tended primarily. TO force the ID. L.
II. 10 give better service upon its
three-cent lines, there would be an
interesting situation precipitated II the
company did not or could not give sat
isfactory service within the month al
lowed The passage Of the repeating
ordinance then. if upheld by the courts.
would remove most of the remaining
franchise rights OF the company In the
downtown section of the city. Ac-
cording TO Corporation Counsel Hally,
the city would be In position to en-
force regulations regarding service.
fares and all such matters rs long as
the regulations were reasonable.
II is certain that the matter would
speedily get into the courts. Just
how long II would take to deermine
the respective rights of the city and
the traction company is difficult mat
ter to predict The next significant
portion of the Garvey resolution fol-
lows
Whereas cars upon the route
known as the Crosstown route.
and the cars upon the route
known as the Sherman line. and
the cars upon the route known as
the Fourteenth ave Through
and the Fourteenthave. Belt" are
not of modern design for service
and comfort, and are not being
kept clean inside and outside. and
during certain hours OF the day
are constantly In an overcrowded
condition,
-. Therefore. be II resolved. That
U00Igsefs fiafT eenvfnue for
80 days from the 9Th day OF April.
1910. said ordinance and all
amendments. TO said ordinance
by which rights were granted TO
said corporation shall be repealed.
and that the following ordinance
be read twice by its title printed
in tho proceedings and laid upon
the table until the 10th day OF
MAY. 1910. and that the corpora
ton counsel be and he is hereby
instructed to procure service OF
copy OF this resolution and OF the
repeating ordinance TO be served
upon the Detroit United States
Railway the successor and assign
of the Detroit Railway. the corpor-
alton TO whom the grant was
made.
The resolution had been read nearly
through before any of the aldermen
except Garvey awakened To its pur-
port. Then Aid Vernon arose.
Does the alderman from the Six
teenth ward realize that the passage
of this ordinance would do away with
our three-cent lines?" he inquired. Gar
vev replied that he intended 10 get
better service. There were then calls
for Hally and the latter explained the
measure.
at would mean that the company
could charge whatever the council
permits." said Hally. IF the fran
chise is revoked, It means that the
rate OF fare shall be such as the coun-
Gil shall fix"
Aid. Gutman declared that he
thought the y IT, X. would gladly get
rid of its three-cent fare franchise
Aid. Ellis also declared the measure
dangerous and one that the people
living on the three-cent lines would OBJ
iect TO. Aid. Garvey declared that he
meant TO correct the present service
conditions which are such that the
people are crowded into the three-cent
line cars like cattle. He did not be-
Iieye the d. T. II. would give up these
franchise rights.
The Detroit Railway franchise.
granted in 1894. provides that the
grant may be revoked for neglect TO
live ND 10 it's provisions To repeal 1t.
notice must he given for 30 days, then
the matter be submitted TO the courts
and after final judicial decision has
heen rendered an additional 30 days
must be given TO correct the condi-
tIons complained of. The ID. Z. X
roipht thus be able 10 put off the ac-
tuaI revocation Of It's three.cent fran
cbises for four or FIVE years. II II wish
cd. and then have a chance TO escape
by correcting service conditions in the
final 80 days OF grace allowed.
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