The Detroit times., 1911-10-31
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DEMANDS SUBMISSION
OF MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
Continued from Page One.

chise? II We take over the ID. u r.
with its s26,000,000 of bonds, We are
| buying an equity in a mortgage.
1 There's nothing mysterious about
that. Mr. Hally or Mr.. Thompson
can't bind the ID. L. r. stockholders.
It's the old landlord and tenant prop
| osition.
Terminals Are Valuable.
The freight and express problem
is a big one not covered in the pro-
posed franchise. Terminals are the
most valuable property OF any rail-
way In New York city. they are val
ued at sl50.0O0,000 Under the pro-
posed franchise YOU must give the
D. U. r. perpetual terminals in De-
| troit. What will those be worth in
years TO come? They are 10 be free
to the d. L. r.. under the franchise"
| George w Moore was in New York
city, but Secretary Dalton read a let.
ter from him, demanding that the 81
pledged aldermen live up 10 their
promise 10 submit municipal owner
ship at the earliest possible moment.
| only the common council stands
between the people and municipal
ownership said Mr.. Moore. Il feel
| sure that the people will vote TO buy
the ID. T. r. | think IL is in our power
TO condemn the ID. u. II. property, IL
| they will not name a fair price. II we
haven't that power now. the common
council and corporation counsel
| should draft a charter amendment,
giving us that power
THE Codd-Hutchins measure was
the best franchise ever offered 10 the
people. The Breitmeyer franchise was
| the next best. The Thompson fran
chise is the least favorable OF all But
the people have repeatedly demon.
strated that they want municipal own.
ership. They agree with Mayor
Thompson's campaign utterance that
the only good franchise is dead one.
| The option in the proposed franchise
| is worthless. The d. L. r. has no
power TO sell TO the city if il wanted
| to-. They admit that they have $685.
| 900, 900 outstanding bonds, and they
don't know all the bondholders. IL
one of those bondholders refuses his
consent 10 sale, they can sell. The
only way is 10 condemn the property.
Make the company and the bondhold-
ers defendants. The option plan was
tried in Cleveland. The Cleveland OPP
ton is an outrageous fraud and a
monstrous swindle. I don't believe
the people will give franchise on
any terms, but if they do, let's get
the power TO operate railway, first,
and get control OF the situation, and
then we can deal with the ID. u. X.
on even terms"
Dust Opposes Franchise.
William T. Dust drew thunderous
applause when he announced: II am
opposed TO a franchise under any cir
cumstances. I believe that the ID. IT,,
r. is at the end OF its rope This is
their last attempt TO get franchise.
The courts have ruled that they have
no rights on some OF our streets
where they claimed perpetual rights.
The six months option is no good.
We would be served with injunctions
by bondholders and 1t would mean
endless litigation.
The cry against municipal owner.
ship is that IL would mean a big po-
litical machine, say Mo-! II is
I the best thing to take the street car
question out of politics. We would
have the best commission OF our citi-
zenship.
IL am willing TO trust the people.
I don't blame Mr.. Hutchins and the
| ID. L. r. officers. for doing their duty
BY the stockholders. believe that
Mr.. Hally and Mr.. Thompson are hon
eat in offering their franchise. but
they can't cope with the ID. L. r. Of.
fcers. who have made. life study OF
putting Ethiopians in the fence when
dealing with the people II we had
municipal ownership, I'd be willing
to have Mr. Hutchns manage the
system for the city. and | know that
he would give the same conscientious
service as he now gives for his EN-
ployers, the ID. L. r.
James Schermerhorn prefaced his
remarks with the statement that
there was no question as TO the good
faith OF Hally and Thompson, but de-
manded that the people have the right
! to go on record with votes as to
what they want.
! "All conditions. all thought OF the
| times. tends toward municipal own
! ership OF public utilities" said Mr..
! Schermerhorn. 1T is not fantastic
or odd 10 stand for that principle.
Il must question the sincerity OF
those perennial advocates OF pri'
! oW nership. VINO have always been ar
rayed against municipal ownership.
but who now step forth as municipal
/ ownership advocates, and say Take
I this franchise. II is just what you
want. you municipal ownership folk.
( Bewore OF the Greeks when they come
bearing gifts They say il is three
cent fare. It is foisting a great bur
den OF expense on the taxpayer for
paving between the trucks. The peo-
ME have demonstrated i'm the past
! their desire for nothing but municipal