davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25
THOMPSON SETTLEMENT
/ PLAN DOESN'T BRING CITY
OWNERSHIP A BIT NEARER
No Attempt Is Made To Solve
Same Old Problems OF
Finance.
BONDS STUMBLING BLOCK
Haarer Points Out Mayors De-
fective Mathematics in Figur-
uring Paving Obligation.

In spite OF the prominence given TO
the municipal ownership idea in the
statements emanating from the may
or's Office i'm explanation OF the
Thompson street car settlement plan,
the prospect OF municipal ownership
seems TO be just as far away as II
ever was. and there is little hope
given to the advocates OF clty-owned
street railways In the agreement
which has been reached.
The option agreement under which
the city may buy out the street rail-
way system looks like business, II is
true. bat the execution OF the plan is
made difficult by the vague terms In
which the agreement is drawn Ar
bitration proceedings, IL carried out
as provided for, are likely TO be ex.
ceedingly long-drawn out and there
very little attempt in the agree.
ment 10 define the basis OF such pro-
coedings AS one financial man ex-
pressed II. there would be enough ma
terial for litigation in such proceed
ings 20 last twenty years IN the
courts.
The real tangle. however. would
come IN attempting 10 eSJdOhsh W"
rights OF the bondholders. Approx
matcly there are $25,000,000 worth OF
bonds outstanding against the proper
" OF the Detroit United Railway.
About $S.S00O00 of this amount con
Eisrs or the various underlying iisssNies
OF the companies which were taken
over from time 10 time by the ID. U.
r. system, and the balance is made
mp OF an issue OF first consolidated
mortgage bonds, dated 1899 and ma
turing in 1882 1892 These bonds are
secured by all the property OF the De-
troit United system. city and subur-
ban lines included The entire Issue
authorized under the mortgage
amounts TO S25.00O.000 and the plan
OF the company Is To issue these
bonds as they are needed TO retire the
underlying bonds that mature from
time TO time Thus these bonds will
be gradually Issued until the entire
indebtedness OF the company is in
cluded under the one Issue OF con-
solidated mortgage bonds.
II is this issue of bonds that will
furnish mighty knotty problem to
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25

uptangle II the city decides TO take up
the option offered under the Thomp-
son settlement plan, for IL must not
be forgotten that bonds represent the
ownership OF the company. They are
secured by mortgage upon the prop
erty and represent money lent TO the
company on that property. Bondhold-
ers have the same rights I'm the prop
erty that the mortgages of any land
han and the bondholders must be
satisfied before the company can sell
out to-the- city or Ic-any- one else.
II they are not they can block any
deal that may be made.
And there would be difficulties in
the way even lf the bondholders
should agree TO such terms as might
be proposed The option naturally
extends only 10 the city lines. The
bond issue is secured by all the prop
erty of the company including the
suburban lines and franchises. IL
would take the courts years TO decide
Just what portion OF the security Civ
en- 10 bondholders Is represented by
the city property and how much of IL
Is represented by the suburban prop
critics. In the meantime municipal
ownership would be held up. and nm
der the agreement, as il would prob
ably be construed, the company could
go on using the tracks on the terms
now proposed.
Further complexities will be added
to the situation by the financing that
viii be required 10 build the extern
Sions which are called for in the
Thompson settlement plan. These
extensions can be made only by issu-
ing bonds 10 pay for the track and
equipment These bonds cannot be
marketed unless they run for period
of years While. OF course, they will
be sold subject 10 the option TO be
given 10 the city, they will have TO be
taken care OF in any settlement,
which means that the city will be
forced 10 pay practically the full con-
struction cost OF these extensions TO
satisfy the bondhoiders.
II must be evident that the city
has a good deal 10 do before II can
own the street car system under the
option proposed IN the Thompson set.
element As matter OF fact the
practical difficulties are fully as great
as they ever were The bondholdeTs
could completely tie up the system
and prevent any sale that did not
take care of their interests. The pol
icy OF the company does not Indicate
any intention of retiring any OF the
Indebtedness with real money III
the city is TO take over the system
eventually It will have 10 pay the
larger part OF the bond issues in full.
which practicable means that they
will have 10 pay every cent that has
ever been put into the capital OF the
company, regardless of depreciation.
The only alternative is "a lawsuit
which would stretch out for years.
The Thompson settlement. plan may
be an excellent working agreement,
but as step toward municipal own
Fship Il does not so far.
Mayor Thon " on was in error in
stating, Monday, that an expenditure
of $260. 600 per year by the city in
5aving between the tracks of the De-
tire United railway would mean an
increase OF only five cents per thou
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25

clerk faharfrs A. Nichols. two years
ago. came forward with a plan for set
Ting the street railway question tenn
porarily that. In It's municipal feat
ures was exactly like the one now
agreed upon II provided that The
rates OF fare on the old Detroit rail-
NAY lines be extended TO include the
five-cent lines. The plan wax APP
-praxelo by the council. but the II. u.
Il would not accept II.
Ameng the letters OF congratula-
ton received by Mayor Thompson Is
one rom his predecessor tiftff'
Breitmeyer. who made an unsuccess-
ful attempt TO settle the transporta.
ton problem with his committee OF
fifty" MIR. Breitmeyer's letter fol-
lows:
Detroit, Oct %. 1911.
My Dear Mayor:
| want TO congratulate you ana
your associates in the settlement
proposed with the Detroit United
railway. Ii is a step which VIII
be sanctioned by a great major
nv OF our citizens. No doubt the
merits OF this proposal will be
crltized from various angles.
However. YOU deserve great cred
IL. and | sincerely hope the citi-
zens will support the proposition.
/ beg 20 remain
Sincerely yours,
PHILIP BREITMEYER.
The mayor is also exhibiting other
letters of congratulations
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25
WOMEN TO USE RECALL
IN FIGHT ON SALOONS

RIVERSIDE. Cal. Oct 24.-The
first move OF the newly enfranchised
women OF California against liquor
ira &c was taken today at the town
OF Perris. where suffrage leaders sent
our a call for all women voters TO
register Tor the purpose of making
war on the municipal council. which
is alleged to favor saloons.
Ia their attempt 10 remove the
present councilmanic board. and elect
another pledged against the liquor
traIhc the women of Perrs plan 10
fTTvuze -rfrerecall
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25

sand I'm the taxes. PUBIC -Works
Commissioner Haarer. whose state
ment thM this work would cost up-
wards OF a million dollars year was
challenged by the mayor. has been
doing a little figuring himself, and ne
discovers that tho increase, under the
mayors estimate Of 100000 per year,
| would be so cents pee thousand on
/ the basis OF the present assessed val
uation
Judge Connolly "Fiesers'
In the opinion OF Judge Connolly,
however, the paving cost would never
reach 100000 per year and ne rldl'
cules Hearers estimate as TO the
probable cost. ihe Judge has hgured
il all out on paper and his hg1res
show that to build new foundations
and lay new paving ON the entire sys-
TEN OF III miles Mould cost sl765.'
go. This is al the rate OF SEQ per
square yard which is said 10 be the
present cost 10 the d. L r. This
would make the cost of the pating
$1O.32535 per mile. and IL would be
impossible. Judge Connolly SAYS, TO
lay more than Is miles In any one
year. which would bring the total eN-
penditure up 10 $l54.SSO.25 for year.
While there are many who would
like to see the Thompson plan OF set
clement fall al the polls, 1t is doubtful
n there will be any serious opposition
to the plan In the council, Tor the
aldermen, much as some CT them hate
10 see Mayor Thompson get the glory
for settling The street car question,
realize that It's three-ccnt fare feature
is bound 20 make il popular with
many people and they cannot anord
10 get lin bad.
Aid. Charles r McCarty OF the
Thirteenth ward. is the only alderman
TO come forward thus far with direct
knock" One OF his objections Is
that II does not provide for the ex-
tensions Of the rates of fare 10 terri
t)ry that may be annexed I'm the
future Friends OF the mayor say
this is no objection al al They point
out that the nlan provides for sin
gle fare 10 Palmer Park on the Wood
ward. Hamilton-blvd and Oakland
ave. lines which will take care OF the
! situation in the north end in the
event of the annexation OF Highland
Park Ii Is hardly lil.ely. they say,
that there will be any further extern
sion OF the city limits on the east nd
west without the life OF the proposed
franchise l3 years. There is a posi-
hilit1- a portion of Hamtramck
may be annex d later on. in which
case IL is believed by the mayors
supporters thai some satisfactory ar.
rangement could be made with re-
spect 10 the fares
Mayer THOMPSON left, Tuesday
morning for a trip up the lakes on
the freighter John j. Bartum. He
will be gone a wees
MeVicsr To Inspect Pavement.
Before leaving the mayor said he
had engaged John McVicar 10 inspect
every foot OF the paving and founda.
tions OF the tracks OF the five-cent
lines. Mr. McVicar will start We'd.
nesday morning ana, as soon as his
work is complete he will report to
the mayor,
In connection with the Thompson
settlement, il is recalled that fttv
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25
PLANNED TO DROP ELLIS
WITH 80 DAYS SALARY

After an executive session, Monday
afternoon, on the case Of Principal
William A. Ellis, OF the Oufield
school. who was suspended for drink.
ing, in the last meeting Of tie board
OF education, the committee on teach.
ers and schools announced that no
further action had been taken. The
matter is likely TO come up in the
regular meeting Of the board, Thurs
day night, and II Is limited that the
principal will be let OUT with 80
days pay unless some of the mem.
bers change their minds. ~
Supt. Martindale reported that the
Fairbanks school annex, on Wood.
ward-ave., would be orened today, 10
pupils being transferred. This will
do away with halliday sessions in that
school. Miss Alice Robson, OF the
McGraw school, has been appointed
principal of the Fairbanks annex.
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25

Tire council ways and means COM
uittce will recommend TO the council
tuesday night that the water boards
r.uuest for "a loan OF 100000 until
r,bfUrry. be granted The committee
also decided TO remove the free en-
tI6vrzent bureau from the basement Of
tho city hall 20 the old Dr. Csrsten's
homestead. Brush and Macomb-ss.
The Detroit times., 1911-10-25
MAN STRUCK BY CAR;
INJURIES ARE SERIOUS

An unidentified man about 20 years
car in front OF No. 139 Gratiot-ave..
Tuesday morning. He was knocked,
unconscious and police auto took
him to ST. Mary's hospital. where his
condition Is said to be serious.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
An Open Letter.

Editors KennebeC journal.
Dear Sirs: believe many of your
Waterville readers will be Interested
to read through your courtesy argu-
ments for and against the proposed
new charter which is to be voted upon
on Oct. ..
Two weeks now remain before the
voters of Watervile will decide wheth-
er we shall continue under our pres
ent form of city government or change
by means of the new charter to a
form that is everywhere it is being
tried proving to be vastly superior in
every respect to the mayor. aldermen,
council ward lire, political party
system of the past.
The Watervile Good Government
Association and those associated with
IL in this campaign have resolved not
to make any attack or criticism OF any
individual or party that has been con-
nected with any of our city govern
ments. but to confine our arguments
entirely to principles and revolts oil
both systems. While ii is not chafg-
ed that there has been any graft III
Waterville we believe that all thinking
men and especially those who pay
taxes (and every man does who pays
remit agree that since Watervilte he
came a city it has not received lts
moneys worth for what has been spent
by our street, school, police ana poor
departments. With hardly an eXeep-
ton every city government has spent
more than its tax INCOME SO that our
debt has constantly increased until
now we are up to or beyond our legal
limit. Still we are suffering for bet
| ter streets-better sidewalks, new
| schoolhouses-an open air school
sewer extensions and so on. And we
must wait no one knows how long be-
cause we have no funds in sight with
which to do the work.
We find that other cities have founo
themselves in the same plight, ane
have decided to change from point
zeal to a business system of managing
| their city affairs with the result tha'
at once there has been in every IN
| stance an immediate Improvement. no
| only in the amount of service and ma
| terial secured for the money, but alst
| the quality of the service has beef
greatly improved.
WHY should we think commission
government an experiment.
It's exactly what every town has ant
/ What Waterville formerly had. namely
a government by three seleetmen
elected by all of the voters, With al
appropriations and important acts au
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
CONDENSED DISPATCHES.

Hugh X. Robinson. the aviator has
been nominated by the Trans Mississippi
River Flight Association to make the
Minneapolis To NeW Orleans hydro-aefo-
plane flight of 1917 miles Robinson Nili
start from the surface of Lake CalhoaF
in the heart Of Minneapolis on Oct. II. lie
will fly for a purse of $2a'ooo
A f2-year-old child was run over
and Instantly killed hy Thomas Edl-
sons automobile at Leuf, Bavaria, a
short distance from NeuremberG a
special dispatch to The World, from
Lauf Sunday night, SAYS. Mr.. Edison
chauffeur does not appear to have
been guilty of carelessness, hut the
party has been detained pending a
hearirg Monday.
John w Loud. freight traffic man
ager of the Grand trunk RallWa!
system, the Grand Trunk Pacific and
the Central Vermont Railways. has
resigned To take effect Sept. 80. Mi
Lond has reached the age limit. His
successor has not yet been appointed
The Sunday afternoon quiet OF some
| two dozen Cinnamon. whiting con
teutedly at pipes, which they passed
| to one another. was broken SUNDAY
| by a squad of Springfield, Mass, po-
lice, who captured Fl Celestials and
two complete opium smoking outfits
Among the Cinnamon captured Were
several who have been attendants al
| 4 Chinese Sunday school there.
| With the arrest of two 9-year-old boys
Milton Moskowitz and John Mahar, the
| Providence, r. L., police and the fire
marshal believe they have solved tht
mystery surrounding the recent burning
| of a number of houses in that city. Mos
kowitz was arrested on Everett avenu,
Saturday afternoon after he had set fire
| to the house owned by Charles Holmes
After starting the blaze the boy rang tive
alarms Moskowitz admitted the police
| say, that on Saturday he set fire to tho
new house of Philip $. Carry, local agen
of the Western Union Co., and also tw,
other houses during the past few days
| Mahar was with him on each occasion
Four separate charges are made agains
each other. Mahar's 6-year-od brother
was also arrested, but released owing &
his age. .tsa sl4f ~
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
Lewis Lander.

Lewis Lander, aged 65 years and 10
months, died Friday night at the home
of his daughter, Mrs. William A. >.
Perkins, on Oak street, the cause Of
death being a disease of the liver. He
was a resident of South Gardiner for
MAN. years. He was mlilman the
greater part of his life, and had work.
ed for Lawrence Brothers of South
Gardiner. About two years ago he went
Ia Vassaboro, where he WAS employed
on a farm. He returned 10 this city
about two weeks before his death. A
widow two daughters. Mrs. Perkins of
this city and Mrs. Littlefield of East
Newport. and a son George in Chi
cago, and brither survive. The fu-
neral will be held at o'clock this
Monday afternoon from the residence
OF his daughter, Mrs. Perkins on Oak
street. and viii be attended by del
egation from Hermon Lodge of Ma
sons, he having been a member of that
body and of Lebanon Royal Arch
ChaDtcr
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
In MunicinaI Court.

Arthur Bunny Leavitt and Frank
Jordan, who were locked up Friday
on a charge of disturbing the peace,
were given hearing in court Satur-
day morning. Bunny claimed that he
was paying the rent, buying the flour,
etc, while Mrs. Lizzie Philbriek. near
whose home he was arrested, claimed
he was nothing but a boarder, and in
arrears in his rent She said she had
put him out several times, but that
he had forced his way back into the
house on each occasion. The evidence
was somewhat tangled, but Judge At
kins settled the case by filming Levitt
so and costs, which he paid. and gave
Jordan until Tuesday to get out OF
town. He also told Mrs, Philbrick to
vacate her domicile, and to get out of
the city by Thursday, or warrant
would be issued for her arrest. She
said that part of her things were pack
ed preparatory to going TO her mother
nj Mt Vernon,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
New Books by Local Authors.

Mrs laura E Richards and DR.. G.
+. Heath have published two new
books. this fall. one a loving tribute
to the memory of an honored father
and mother, Two Noble Lives from
the first; and another. a collection of
songs sand legends of the madonna
and Christ Child" from DR.. Heath. IL
Illustrated by copies of the master
pieces OF the old world. Mrs. Richards
dwells particularly on that period in
the lives of her parents which stands
out pre- eminently as an example OF
noble sacrifice OF self-interest to the
COCO Tof sthe community. 1t will be an
for noble endeavor to every
one who reads it. Published by Dana
Estes & go, Boston. DIR. fHeaths lit :
tie volume is happy combination of
|charming poetic fancies. with the gems
of the old masters, and viii be an un-
conscious education or taste for the
beautiful To the child into whose hands
|it may fail. Published by Richard G..
BADGER Boston.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
CONDENSED DISPATCHES.

Veterans of the Society of the Army
of the Potomac in attendance at their
10th annual reunion at Providence. r.
L., were guests Saturday on an ex-
cursion around Narragansett bay. A
clam bake was served at Rocky Point.
Judge Mcpherson, in federal court
at Des Moines, Ia. Saturday dissolved
the temporary injunction obtained re-
Gently by the express companies of
Iowa against the State Railroad Com
mission. He held that the Railroad
Commission has the right to fix ex-
press rates, and stated that on Oct. 81
the new rates. which win be approx
mately 10 per cent. lower than the
present rates. will take effect.
1t is stated that hereafter the war
department has decided to hold all of
the night target practice in the Ports
mouth artillery district. This is be-
cause the coast and sea hereabouts
offer more unobstructed sweep for
safe gunnery at this season. Neither
at the Boston or Portland districts
could the big guns in the forts be
| fired without endangering the narbor
shipping. They point directly into the
open ocean from Portsmouth. Six
companies participated in the recent
practice, there, two from Boston har-
| Dor. three from Portland and the
l56th Co stationed at Fort Constitu-
ton. Each company fired Is shots from
| the three inch guns at a moving tar
| get from 2200 tc $500 yards from the
shore. 1t is given out unofficially that
the 120th Co. OF Fort Strong, Boston
| harbor. made II out or Is hits, firing
Il tt.~31 - -
| Newcastle made 9 hits out of II. firing
time being I'm. las, the best OF any
4 company The eth co. of ortland
made 10 hits out of Is. firing time be-
ing i'm. SIS. The record made by the
company from Fort Strong is said by
artillery men to be an exceptionally
good one.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
BIGGER AND FASTER
Are the British War Vessels, Says
Sec. of Navy Meyer.

New York, Sept. 17.--No signs oil
any tendency among British author
tiles to favor reduction In size of war
ships was found by George Won T..
Never, secretary of the navy, who re-
turned today from visit OF the Brit
ish navy yards and private shipbuild-
ing plants. Secretary Meyer was given
every opportunity to study thorough
" the naval methods in the British
Isles and he came back particularly
impressed with the humane methods
with which deserters and other minor
naval prisoners are treated. steps are
already to be taken, he said, to estab-
lish detention barracks in this coun-
try along the lines of those at Ports
mouth There are building in Eng
land and other countries he said,
large and fast armored cruisers OF
q, 600 tons and Is knots speed, with
which we have as yet nothing to com
pare"
Mr. Meyer said that he is more than
in favor of fewer government yards in
this country and that he wanted the
rank If vice admiral restored to the
service. He hopes also that Congress
will soon pass a naval personnel bill
bill that will give to the navy younger
admirals and captains.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
CONDENSED DISPATCHES.

The torpedo boat destroyer Burrows
sailed late Sunday from Newport, r.
l., for Norfolk to join the Atlantic tor
pedo boat fleet at that port.
A loss of $4,000 by fire was sustain
ed Sunday night in the mercantile dis
trict of Boston. The fire was on the
fifth and sixth floors of. the stone block
at GOES Bedford street The Colonial
Manufacturing Co.. laees. lost $4,000
and the other losers were the Emerson
Hat Co and William Savage, up
nolsterer.
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.,s the con-
victei wiIe murderer, VINO has bee,
confined in the Chesterfield county jail
since he was found guilty of the
charge against him on Sept. s. was
taken sunday to Richmond, Va, and
placed in the Richmond City Jail
v here he presumably Will remain I'M
til he is removed to the penitentiary
for execution. He is condemned to die
Nov. n.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
COTTON AND WOOL. I'll
Government Reports Will Be issued on
Sept. rs and Oct. 2.

Washington, Sept. 1.-THE last reg
ular cotton condition report of the sea-
son. which is awaited with marked in
terest owing to the controversy over
this years crop report. will be issued
by the crop reporting board of the
department of agriculture on Monday.
Oct. 2, at noon. Eastern time, and viii
show the condition of the crop on
Sept. %. K
The final report will be preceded by
two census bureau cotton reports. The
first, which will be issued Sept. rs at
10 A. NJ, will give the supply and dis
tribution of this years cotton up TO
Aug. 81. The other will be the sec
ond ginning report of the season to be
issued Oct. at 10 A. NJ. giving the
amount of cotton actually gfnned from
this years growth up to Sept, n
The official estimate OF the total pro-
duction OF cotton in the United States
for. the growing year Of 1911 win not
be announced BY the department of
agriculture until early in December.