The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01
CASINO PRIVILEGE
TO HIGHEST BIDDER
Council, After Lively Debate, Decides
Against Municipal Operation
By Vote of Is to 16.

After a debate, lasting about an
hour, Tuesday evening, the council.
by vote of Is To 16. adopted the
minority report OF the committee on
parks and bolevards, recommending
that the casino privilege on Belle Isle
be awarded to the highest bidder
along with the other privileges. The
majority report, signed by Aid.
Thompson, chairman; Merritt, Hindle.
end Rosenthal, recommended that the
city take over the casino and let all
the other privileges to the highest
bidders. The aldermen, signing the
minority report, were Ellis. Lynch and
McCarty.
The discussion that ensued was the
most interesting that has marked the
sessions OF the new council.
In the opinion OF many of the al
dermen, the question seemed to hinge
on whether the city could take out a
license and sell beer II 1t engaged IN
the restaurant business on Belle Isle.
Sentiment on this phase OF the ques-
ton was divided, and doubt as to the
city's right to sell beer undoubtedly
caused some aldermen TO vote for the
minority report. although inclined TO
favor municipal operation OF the ca
sine. AS q matter OF fact. the War
per-Cramton law states specifically
that no corporation shall engage In
the sale or liquor at retail, which
would seem to preclude Detroit.
Aid. Gilman probably put In the
most telling knock against the taking
over of the casino by the city, when
he declared that, IL the city should
make a failure of II, the fiasco would
be used as an argument to kill OF
municipal ownership OF the street
railway.
The council, on recommendation or
the committee on streets. granted j.
l.. Hudson, permission to bridge over
the alley on the west side OF his store
so as TO connect the store with the
new building he Is to erect on Wood.
ward, on the site OF the present Ben
son store. There was some opposi-
ton, but II dwindled to nine votes
when Assistant Corporation Counsel
Lawson pointed out that the counclfs
permission was unnecessary. The al
leys, he said, are for the convenience
OF abutting property owners and are
controlled by them, the city, however,
maintaining certain rights with re-
gard TO sanitary and traffic regula-
tons. Mr.. Hudson, 1t appeared, had
asked for the councils permission,
simply as a matter of courtesy.
The corporation counseis ruling was
q revelation to many of the members.
Three OF the proposed charter
amendments, agreed upon by the
committee on city and charter legis-
lation have been drafted and were In
troduced In the council, Tuesday
night. Under the law, they must lie
on the table 80 days. One of them
calls for the division OF the Seven
teenth ward into two wards, Crane
ave. being the dividing line. The 9th
er amendments provide for the APP
proval and confirmation by the coun
ell OF all contracts to which the city
is a party and the issuance OF all II
censes by the city clerk.
AID. Grindley introduced bill TO
increase the bonding limit from two
TO three per cent; to authorize the is
sue OF bonds in the sum OF not less
than 800 instead Of $500, and to EN-.
power the common council To change,
by ordinance, the manner and system
OF registering, re-registerin5, exchaas-
ing. redeemIng and cancelling tho
city bonds. A resolution. providing for
the submission OF this bill to the peo.
pie In the spring election. was laid
on the table for 30 days
On recommendation OF the commit
tee on ways and means, $4,000 was
appropriated to provide for 20 add
tional election booths I'm the spring
primary and election.
Mayor Thompson's suggestion that
early action be taken looking toward
sane Fourth OF July bore fruit In an
ordinance prepared by Mr.. Hally and
introduced by Aid. Mason, making II
unlawful for any person to sell or
to have In his possession any toy pis-
tol, squib, rocket, cracker, Roman
candle. fire balloon. or other combusti-
bic fireworks OF any article for the
making Of pyrotechnIc displays within