The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-25
HUTCH|Ns FAVOR
MASSACHUSETTS
SYSTEM
Tells Mayor Breitmeye- That II
terminate License Plan for 0peEu<
ton Lines Would Be Workable
In Detroit.
Intimates That Boosting Of D. q. ~
Rental Will Result in Holding :
Up Extensions.


dent Hutchins. of the Detroit Unfto(
Railway, to come forward with pre-
osition for settling the street c.
problem, definite as to terms and con-
ditions. he must have been disappoint@
ed with the letter submitted by the
railway official late Friday afternooU2|
Mr.. Hutchins expressed the opinfO1
that the Massachusetts, indetermtnut1
license plan, which has been In sucs5
cessful operation for IA years. woui4
work out satisfactorily in Detroit. but
assures the mayor that the companT
lis not insistent on any specific plaSZ
OF adjustment"
Mr.. Hutchins complains that the ao8
titude assumed by the council towar4
the ID u. r., as shown by its actioU|
in increasing the company's rental;
from 5000 to $3.50 per day. has result.5
ed in holding up negotiations for 49,
curing the money with which to buit<2
the extensions recently authorized, and
the work is at standstill. He sayo2|
In effect, that II the council persfstS III
this attitude and takes steps to boo40z
the rental further the extension WORT
will be abandoned, for the present On
least.
In this connection Mr.. Hutchino
calls attention to the increased COST
of labor and materials, which hoo'
made 1t necessary for all kinds 81
business enterprises to increase the
price of their products, and continuea:I
"A five-cent fare today will not pro-,
duce more net revenue than q THREE
and cne-eighth cent fare would pro
duce is years ago. Yet, in the face
of all this, 1t ls proposed still further
Ito increase the expense of operation
and at the same time reduce the rate,
OF fare. 1t simply cannot be done. No.
other business institution in the city
of Detroit or elsewhere could live
under such conditions.
| Mr.. HuLchins again takes occasion
to rap the city for its failure to put,
the tracks and foundations OF the old
Detroit Railway lines In such condt~
ton as to enable the company to I'M
prove the city. He says pointedly:
The city, according to the report
of the department OF public works, io
delinquent on its contract to maintain
the foundations and pavements to the
amount of $1,047,S20, yet II now.
threatens to forfeit our franchise for
not keeping up, an impossible services
on lines badly out OF repair on &C.
count Of the default of the city. &c
the city will perform its contracts we
will Immediately follow up the work
with the necessary improvements Of
the tracks, cars and service upon those
lines"
Mr.. Hutchins insists that the public
has been persistently misinformed a..
to the profits being earned by COM
pany, and at the outset OF his letter
he says The only immediate plan
which / have in mind Is that there.
shall be laid before the public such
accurate information concerning the
property and business OF the Detroit
United Railway as will enable It TO
pass understandingly upon any plan
OF adjustment submitted to II for its
decision"
The company, he declares. Will
agree to any plan by which II can OBJ
tain fair and reasonable return
upon the value of its property" He
expresses the hope that the work
started by the committee of fifty viii
be carried to completion
With regard TO the Massachusetts,
plan. Mr.. Hutchins says:
"The rates OF fare are controlled by,
commission TO which either party
may apply for an adjustment OF the
rates. This plan has been In operation
about IA years and up TO the present
time seems to give universal satisfac~
ton.
II had this particular method in
mind when wrote you that I was not
in favor of fixed term frapchises. 4
believe such a plan could be worked
out here. and If adopted the service to
be rendered by the company and the
rates OF fare 10 be charged would at
all times be under the control of and
subject 10 adjustment by an independ-
ent and impartial tribunal instituted
for that purpose. and the rights OF
both the people and the company
would be fully protected.
II assure you that any arrangements
fair to the interests committed TO our
charge will be acceded to. We fully
appreciate the honorable efforts you
have made TO readiust the relations
between the city and the railway, and
will try at all times 10 meet you and
any proposition made by you In q
spirit OF fairness and candor"
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