The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-23
Barefoot PASSES
up APPRAISAL
BOARD, ALSO
Refuses To Participate in Proceed
ings Unless City Takes Up Aroi-
tration Formally and Is Repre-
sented by Corporation Counsel.
Other Stipulations Are That D. U. H.
Open Books and Money Be Provided
To Prepare City's Case.


lutely declined to be party 10 Tue
arbitration proceedings announced 70
begin next Monday 10 pass upon the
Bancroft appraisal and that made py
the ID. u. RS own experts
Bancroft declares that he will con-
sent to such proceeding only IN case
the arbitration is formally taken up
by the city, the ID. u. X. compelled 10
open all its books and papers and 10
agree TO accept the finding, and SUI
flcient money Is provided SO that the
city may be represented as well as the
company. He also makes IL conai-
ton that Corporation Counsel Hally
conduct the city's side of the case
In letter to Chairman Frank w.
Eddy. chairman OF the committee OF
nifty, Friday, Engineer Barcroft says
In part: -.
year trying 10 accomplish a task with
our funds OF without proper vigorous
support warns one against a-FePet''
ton of this method of procedure. For
< the future, therefore, | must consider
among other things the financial ques-
ton, proper regard for my own Dusi-
ness and the purpose of your scheme
M
yember A, 1909. This present move
rnent was then unheard Of. Your ar
bitration proposition would simply
strengthen the hand of the company
which we were supposed TO investigate
by giving them every consideration
possible both by arrangement and by
the apparent moral support of the
fifty
I'm view of the peculiar and com
plex situation created, il is necessar%
before it is possible 10 give a positive
reply to your committee, TO dnalyze
certain matters that have taken place
In the past, in order that our relations
in the future may be clearly under
stood When the appraisal board OF
the committee of fifty selected me 10
appraise the properties OF the Detroit
United Railway, the letter OF the APP
pointment contained the following:
In the selection of you by the
committee TO perform this work,
IL throws upon you the RESPONSE
bility. The committee desires
only a thorough, complete and alb
sclutely honest report. We beg
to assure you that the committee.
both as individuals and as i whole,
will support you in every manner
possible.
mo limit was placed on my move
u.ents, as is shown from the phrase
ology OF this letter. No limit was
specified on the companys side, as
will be noted from the statement OF
the president. When advised of the
intention to appraise the railway, he
replied in the following language:
beg to assure you that we will
be willing TO do everything ia our
power TO facilitate the WORK you
have In hand | feel that the Gus
tody OF the interests | represent
is as much in the hands of the
citizens of Detroit as in my own,
and | much appreciate the efforts
cf your committee in these mat
ters.
Nothing could be fairer, more open.
frank and satisfactory Mr.. 1utchins
further stated that we were 10 have
access to every paper, voucher or
record the company possessed. Every
facility and assistance were TO be
given me in order that nothing would
have to be surmised. and hat fairness
and justice could be done TO the city
and the company.
And it may be said with simple
truthfulness, that these promises OF
the company were never KEEP.
Information that was trivial, that
which was public property. or which
could be obtained without the COM
pany's assistance. their ideas OF guam
titles and identification OF property
were given, but no detail or informa-
ticl divulging the companys re lords.
vouchers, books or private business
methods was disclosed"
Bancroft Reviews Appraisal.
Mr.. Bancroft then tells OF the accept
ance OF his report Nov. by the ap-
praisals committee OF the fifty" with
the statement that il was fair and just
to all parties. He recounts the inves.
tigation OF his charges that the d. T..
A. management had attempted TO tam
per with his experts, and calls atten-
ton to the fact that the executive
committee of The "lifty' found that the
acts complained of were highly i'm
proper"
Attention is called to a supplement.
tary report OF Dec. 8, In which II is
shown that there was difficulty i'm APP
praising the value Of the car shops 10
the city lines, and also to the fact that
overhead charges are likely TO be
wiped out by expiration of franchises.
He also quotes the report OF the ap.
praieals committee OF March 10 in
which II Is shown that IN case the ID.
u. r. does not reach settlement with
the city. items aggregating very
large sum would also be cut from C1l,.
sideration. inasmuch as they have 70
do with the operation OF going con.
Germ.
The meeting of March 2S in the
council chamber, at which the arbitra.
ton proceeding was decided upon. Is
commented upon. Mr. Bancroft alleg.
ing that statements made at that time
BY General Manager f. NJ Brooks OF
the ID. u. r. were specious and false
The remarks OF David w. Slmons on
that occasion are quoted i'm full as con.
troverting Brooks statements.
Bancroft comments sarcasticaIly
upon the committee OF fifty franchise
and shows that the remarks OF CLYDE
l. Webster with regard to arbitrating
the valuation are far from satiefac
tory 10 him. With regard TO arbitra
ton, Bancroft says In 3art:
One side Is open, the other Is not
committed 10 anything. How can you
arbitrate ono side? Arbitration gen.
orally comes after the city has had ,
chance 10 see books and private pa.
pers. and the city then, ~ There Is q
alive the D. 4. n contention Il 81 s1r ell
II. not the field Of any arbitration board