The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-27
ALDERMEN SPLIT
ON CASINO LEASE
Half the Committee Would Accept
Konen's Bid, While Other Mem
bers Say Nay.

Remarks about cold feet consist
ency and othed adiuncts or pubic
servant preceded the filing OF diyid'
ed report by the council committee ON
parks and boulevards, Monday morn
ing. on the ACCESSIBILITY or renewing
the Belle Isle casino lease TO William
Konen at his new bid OF $4,000 a year.
Chairman Thompson and Aid. Nc
Carly and Hindle voted 10 recommend
renewing the lease. Aid. Ellis. Mer-
rift and Lynch were for rejecting H.
Aid. Merritt threw a bomb into the
camp by declaring that konen knew
the amount of the next bid, submitted
by Paul Kobe.
This caused demand for proofs
from Secretary Busch OF the park de-
partment. hut Merritt said that his
remark did not IN any way reflect on
the department. but that he learned
that the information had been given
out by Kobe himself and had reached
Konen. Oswald Tschaecke, another
bidder. was said TO have been the
middle-man.
Aldermen favorable to Konen said
that this ought not TO make any diner
ence, as il was one mans privilege
TO find out another's bid II he could
do IL through unofficial channels.
I'm not In favor OF Konen," said
Aid. Lynch. The councils attitude
was plain last week. that 1t did not
favor him, and | don't believe In go
ing against their wishes. II they want
10 favor him, let them do So"
But why do you turn him down
when you voted two weeks ago 10 ac-
cept his bid OF s4.500?" asked Chair
man Thompson. Have you got cold
feet"
cold feet nothing" put in Merritt,
" as far as I'm concerned don't think
the people want Konen. and II II
comes between consistency and the
peoples wishes, I'm for the peoples
wishes.
Merritt then produced bale OF clip
pings from a Detroit newspaper just
after the Elks' reunion last summer,
TO the effect that Konen had violat-
ed his contract and the orders OF the
park commissioner by selling beer on
Belle Isle outside the casino, and
that he had refused TO serve the com.
bination lunches provided for in the
contract"
"Mr. Konen," said Aid. McCarty,
turning TO the lessee. you said that
you couldn't make money at the old
rental with the menu prices IL pro
vided for; how do you expect to make
money under your $4,000 bid. with
menu prices cut DOWN."
II have been misquoted." said Kon-
en-. las for any one who says | got
information as to what Kolke bid,
want to say he Is liar"
Hindle. Thompson and Mccarthy
then talked about consistency, and
Merritt and Lynch above violation OF
the contract The discussion was
finally settled by the divided report.
The committee on ordinances also
had a jangle and settled II by the same
convenient method, leaving II TO be
fought out by the common council.
This was over an ordinance 10 pay all
laborers for the city 81 a day.
Chairman Allan said that he got lab
orers In the winter for $l75 for his
lumber business, and that if 81 day
were paid by the city. II would bring
laborers out OF the factories and drive
out the old men who were kept In the
city work partly through charity. Aid.
Garvey and Hindle voted for a 81
wage. and Allan, Schultz and Field op.
posed the change.