The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-11

man
IL L. possibly true that business men
| who seek public position ind them
selves hampered by partisan politics
| inN accomplishing those things which
| they consider best for the public good.
but In my opinion the best remedy for
participation i'm public affairs By bust
ness men. IL our important pisces
were held more often by business men
and less often by self-seeking pol.
| ticians the rule of petty politics would
/ be greatly weakened.
During the past two years I have
underworld to do what | could for the
| public good according 10 my best Iuds-
ment ! have no word OF criticism tor
| those who have opposed me; I return
my sincere thanks TO those who have
assisted my efforts.
still believe that In the one matter
| Of street railway settlement the ef-
forts made were In the right direction.
| and that had the settlement proposed
been carried through and presented 10
the people IL would have received their
| approba tion and would have SAY ell
them much money in street car fares,
at the same time securing for them
much better service. That effort at
| settlement not having been successful.
l wish TO say now that l have nothing
but good wishes for the success OF my
successor in office in dealing with this
question, and regardless OF his poltt-
| zeal creed and beliefs I pledge myself
/ in advance 10 give him every assist
ancc within my power toward the ac-
| complishment OF any settlement based
! on civic honesty and practicability
In presenting this final message to
your honorable body | wish 10 make
one suggestion concerning legislation,
and that Is that more dispatch be had
| In taking up formal communications
from the Mayor. no matter who he may
| be. There have been number OF times
| during my administration when sug-
gestions from me Mayor, OF things
which In my Judgment should be done
| for the public good have not been dis
posed OF either by adoption or reJec-
ton. call TO mind particularly a
communication relative to the neces-
Eity OF some law for the governing or
| the small lying-in hospitals, where
| many things irregular to the medical
| call 10 mind as we'll the suggestion
made by me during the latter part OF
| the year 1909 relative TO certain prop.
critics alleged to he held by the Aichi-
| gan state Telephone Company, al
though properly beiong ing to the City.
which should have reverted to the City
| long ago, These are but samples OF
what has happened many times. In the
one case no action was ever taken. In
| the other action has dragged for nearly
| yoar and y half although l under
! stand that the wheels have at last
| turned to where something may be
done.
The executive and legislative depart
| ments are coordinate branches OF the
] city government, and a request or
| suggestion coming from the executive
! Of by the legislative department do
not mean to argue that any suggestion
| made by the chief executive should be
| adopted. but do believe that such mat
| tiers as come to the Common Council
! from the Mayor should be adopted or
/ rejected with a fair degree OF prompt
| ness / am sure that II your honor
| able body will but exercise a little
! more diligence in this line the pros ress
OF city business will be greatly facilit-
| ated
word about the future development or
| our city. Two years ago in my first
! message to you / took occasion to call
! attention to some of the needs OF the
City made imperative by our wonder
full growth and Industrial development.
| I have been criticised because In my
! official acts l have always urged that
public Improvement must keep pace
the expense OF somewhat higher
| taxes This I still believe. We must
| have schools In which to educate our
children. our people must have police
! and fire protection for their lives and
| property, and we must invest the
: money necessary to build our trunk
| sewer systems so that as the property
builds up IL can be properly drained
| and to provide parks and Fairgrounds
| for the present and future generations.
Whether the large sums OF money
which these absolutely necessary
| things will cost Is TO be raised entire
| ly by taxation or Is to be in part a
| bond issue which future generations
l will help 10 pay Is n matter for the
| present and future administrations to
| answer, but however the money shall
| be raised IL must be raised and wisely
expended. The City OF Detroit cannot
| stand still. II has a wonderful future
| IL its public servants will be frank
/, enough and honest enough with them
selves and with the people TO meet the
City's needs fairly and squarely with
out hiding behind the time worn plea
that the taxes must not be raised.
Every right thinking man in the COM
munity Is willing TO pay his share tor
necessary improvements honestly
made, and your greatest duty is to see
that these improvements are made and
that the City realizes the glorious fu-
ture which II before it
Respectfully submitted.
PHILIP BREITMEYER.
Mayor.
Accepted and placed on file