The Detroit times., 1911-10-23
ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT
THOMPSON SETTLEMENT
PLAN HAS DRAWBACKS
Basis of Settlement in Event of
Municipal Ownership Not
Definitely Fixed.
PAVING COST TO BE HEAVY
City's Obligation For Repair of
Streets Will Be $l,5OO,00O a
Year For Some Time.

| "Hic TIE THOMPSON plan Tor set
Ting the street car question seems TO
meet with the approval of the public
In general way. some features OF IL
are being criticized. now that the peo-
fple have had time to study the agree
ment.
| One OF the apparent weaknesses,
In the minds of many. Is that the
plan Is not specific enough with re-
spect TO the manner I'm which the
property of the street car company
shall be valued In the event OF pur-
chase by the city. II is not clear. for
instance, whether the system Is to
De appraised as a going concern, aud
many citizens, no doubt. Will want
iurther light on this point before Civ.
Ing the proposed ordinance their o. k.
at the polls.
On the other hand. the acceptance
OF the valuation agreed upon by the
arbitrators rests solely with the peo-
pie. The decision or the arbitrators
Is binding on the company, but Is not
binding on the city until the people
I nave voted on IT, II they believe II
] Is TOO high, they can reject Il, though,
or course, this would mean that the
advent OF municipal ownership, would
be still further delayed.
| Another feature OF the plan that is
coming in for considerable discussion
Is the paving clause. which places on
the city the burden OF maintaining
On the other hand. the acceptance
! OF tht valuation agreed upon by the
arbitrators rests solely with tn,
people. The decision of the arbitra.
tors is binding on the company, but
Is not binding on the city until the
people have voted on IL. n they be-
lieve II Is too high, they can reject
ii, though. OF course, this would mean
that the advent OF municipal owner
ship would be still further delayed
Another feature OF the plan that is
coming In for considerable discussion
Is the paving clause. which places IN
the city the burden of maintaining
the paving between the tracks on ali
the lines. and OF building the track
foundations for future extensions III.
unpayed, streets.
! Public Works Commissioner Haar-
er estimates roughly that II would
take $l.500,000 per year for several
years TO put the foundations and the
paving between the tracks on all
lines In frst.class condition. And the
plan contemplates that the ordinance
shall be so worded that the company
can absolutely force the city to live
up to It's obligations in this regard.
Thus. while the people will be given
4 the benefit OF lower fares. three-cent
fares. In fact. they will take on addl-
ttonal heavy burdens I'm the way OF
taxation. The concessions In the way
OF fares will not benefit the working
men az much as might b supposed.
A large proportion of them now ride
TO and from their work on three-cent
fares, through the agency OF working
mems tickets.
Based on the number OF passengers
carried In 1910. II Is estimated that
the lower fares would mean a saving
TO the people OF $1,000 900 per year.
fire saving in 1912, at the present rate
| OF increase In population, Is estimated
at about sl,625.000.
The plan will come before the coun-
ell officially next Tuesday night, In
the form OF Communication from
the mayor, which has been previously
published. The franchise committee
already has authorized Corporau n
Counsel Hally 10 proceed with the
\ NOTh VI uIdlllHk tue OTuludOCt IN at
| ticipation OF the action TO be taken
by the council. Tuesday night
If possible Mr.. Hally will have tho
ordinance ready for presentation TO
the franchise committee next Thurs.
day ana the present program is 10
have the committee report II 10 shc
council week from Tuesday night,
when the ordinance In all probability !.
will be placed on its FIRST and secona
reading and referred back 10 the con-
mittee. Then will come public hear
ings on the ordinance. 1t is expected
II seems hardly likely that the ord
nance vii! come up for final action In
the council before the first or seconG
week in November. In that case. tho
ordinance would probably be submit
ted 10 the people early In December
and would 90 into effect shortly after
the first. OF the year.
Mayor Thompson, Judge Connolly
John A. GroRan. clerk of the record
ers court. and James Brady, leave
\ r. uesday morning for a trip up the
lakes on the -freighteF, John j. Bai
lum The mayor feels that he needs
little recreation after the strenuous
conferences on The street car ques-
ton. He expects to be back In the
city for the council meeting week
from Tuesday night