The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-24
CITY OWNERSHIP
ONLY settlement
-. n. INGRAM.
Nowhere Has Street Railway Prob
lem Been Solved BY Granting
of Franchise"

The granting of a franchise VIII
never settle the street railway prob
lem in Detroit--we must have munich
pal ownership" declared r F. Ingram,
Tuesday. commenting upon the ae-
tons OF certain aldermen. who are en-
deayoring 10 delay the submitting OF
charter amendment covering the
matter.
We favor grant OF power, those
aldermen are quoted as saying in ex'
PLANTATION and extenuation OF thei:
position says Mr. Ingram. There
may be others also. that don't under
stand that the city already has the
necessary grant OF power. but doubt
il. More likely such statements are
inspired by desire 10 save 10 the ID.
L. Il its grant OF power.
Those who are muddling the street
railway question that way. point with
seeming pride 10 how the street car
companies OF Chicago and Cleveland
were brought TO time
In Chicago the street railway COM
pany acted as II the ordinance was
being forced down its throat Since
the plant aldermen gave II the iran
chise IL has developed that the street
railway spent what the Chicago pa
pers claim was a slush fund. amount
ing TO $500, 600 This slush fund was
distributed by saloonkeepers. corpor'
alton lawyers and what the Chicago
Examiner calls aldermanic agents OF
the corporations in such way as TO
secure the franchise 10 the street rail-
way corporation The street railway
company has. these papers claim. adj
ded the 100000 10 rebates. etc. and
the Chicago public is now going
through the cheerful process OF pay
ing II. for il Is being added 10 the
cost of street car rides. while the city
authorities are spending the TAX
payers money having about II
Philadelphia has just settled the
street car problem by granting
street car franchise at low rare
After getting the franchise. the com
pany quit the low fares and charged
high fares. and the courts o X. II
because the company must pay inter
est on watered stock
The franchise just adopted oS
Cleveland enforces the present three
cent fares for eight months. but no
longer. unless they can afrord II and
nav interest on So 900 600 OF water.
The street railway officials have al
ready said they can't AFFORD II. ana
m .ir actions. like the dickering now
going on with the Illuminating com.
many. shows that three-cent fares VIII
go a-gimmering.
1t was consolidation with an illum-
mating company. By the way. toat
beat the people OF Columbus out oil
three-cent fares
/ The street car company OF Column
bus finally defeated municipal owner
shin by accepting an ordinance that
gave eight tickets for quarter when
the gross earnings reached certain
figure. The people OF Columbus nave
for The past Ave years been denied
eight tickets for quarter because the
street railway company. by consolldat-
ing with an Illuminating company,
has been able 10 hide it's true gross
earnings,
AT no time and nowhere has the
street railway problem been solved
by granting franchise 4 grant or
mower forsooth' The people have II,
and the street car company Is AFTER
II Fortunately the outcome does NOT
rest with those who profess a desire
to give the people what they don't
need. while denying them what they
have respectfully asked for.