The Detroit times., 1911-01-18
HUR[BUTlsT TURNED
DOWN HARD BY
COUNCIL
Confirmation of Contracts for Belle
Isle and Palmer Park Privileges
Refused, Only One Member
Supporting Commissioner.
Aid. Walsh Has Plan for Municipal
Operation of Casino and Other
Concessions.


Council gave Park Commissioner
Myrtle p. Hurlbut, Tuesday night.
when II refused, by a vote of "a to 1,
to confirm the contracts awarded by
the commissioner for the privileges
on Belle Isle and in Palmer Park for
The ensuing two years. The COM
missioner was requested to at once
advertise for bids for the privileges
and award contracts to the highest
bidder. There Is no way to compel
him to do this, but IL he should re-
fuse the council can continue to re.
fuse to confirm his contracts, as II
has q right to do under the opinion
rendered by Chief Assistant Corpor-
alton Counsel Lawson last week. This
may mean deadlock unless one Of
several plans suggested by various
aldermen reach fruition. Aid. Vernon
was the one man to vote against the
resolution. He wanted the matter
laid over for q week.
Aid. Walsh has an idea that will
prove popular II II can be worked
out. He says he will ask Corpora
ton Counsel Hally to draft measure
providing for municipal operation OF
all the privileges.
Here is a chance to try out NUM-
cipal ownership and operation IL we
ever had one" said the alderman 10
The Times. IL don't see any reason
why We could not go into the restau-
rant business. The city could GER
tainly buy provisions as cheaply as
any private individual and could
serve IL at rates much lower than
are now charged, for there would be
no profit. The boat and other
privileges could be run the same
way. Belle Isle Ii supposed to be
the peoples play ground. 1t Is main
tanned by the peoples money. Let
us give them something in return. In
stead of letting our privileges to
private individuals, who are looking
only for their own pocketbooks, and
giving inadequate service"
Aid. Walsh hopes to have his plan
ready for submission next Tuesday
night.
Aid. Gilman secured the adoption
OF a resolution requesting the COM
mittee on city and charter amend
ment to provide for the confirmation
OF all leases and contracts entered
into by the various boards and COM
missions by the common council. The
resolution contemplates the submis-
sion OF such an amendment to the
electors in the spring.
The discussion OF the Belle Isle
privileges proved one of the lfveliest
that has marked the council sessions
Cor some weeks. Everybody seemed
anxious to take shot at the park
and boulevard and at VIM. konen,
the present lessee of the casino. Ii
gave the new aldermen an opportun-
ity to make their maiden speeches.
Aid. George Ellis, OF the Fifteenth
ward, member OF the parks and
boulevard committee, was one OF the
foremost in support of the resolution
Shaping Commissioner Hurlbua. Aid.
John Thompson, chairman Of the COM
mittee, also strongly urged Its adop-
ton, and incidentally roasted lessee
Konen for the unsatisfactory service
given in the casino last year.
The whole matter was threshcd out
in committee In the afternoon. when
the commissioner was on the grill
for a couple Of hours. Eddie" Bar
nett, of the board OF estimates, was
present and declared that, IL he were
not city official, he would give $4,000
more than the amount Konen Is pay
ing, $4,000, and would guarantee to
give much better food than is now
offered.
'And / would make money at that"
he added.
II the commissioner will accede to
the councils request that he adver-
tise for bids, he could insist on an
iron-clad contract which could be re-
yoked at any time the lessee failed
to give the proper service. the alder
men figure.
Each of the new aldermen had a
bunch of resolutions ready to shove
through, Tuesday night, and their
names will loom large In the Official
proceedings, which, of course, are be-
ing carefully watched by the consti-
tuents.
Aid. McCarty, of the Thirteenth
ward, introduced resolution, which
was adopted, urging the council to
take steps looking to the passage OF
a law by the legislature, giving the
city power to condemn property for
the building of schools and for other
like purposes. Aid Tossy put through
resolution calling for conference
between the committee on public
lighting and the public lighting con-
mission on the question of the latter
engaging public lighting. He would
have the commission include In its
budget a sum sufficient to provide for
charging the plant. provided the nee
essary authority Is forthcoming. The
question, of course, would have to be
submitted to the people.
Aid. Keusch presented a resolution
providing for the splitting up OF the
Seventeenth ward and IL was referred
to the proper committee.
Aid. Gilman, Tossy and Brozo were
appointed a committee to conduct the
recount demanded by ex-Ald. Charles
Wing, OF the Tenth ward.
The council adopted a resolution
presented by Aid. Vernon, requesting
the u. s. government to loan to De-
troit the silver service. OF the cruiser
Detroit, which was taken out Of the
service some time ago.
The ID. u. r. came in for it's usual
banning. The corporation counsel,
on motion OF Aid. Ellis. was directed
to report to the council some plan
for compelling the company to give
adequate service.