The Detroit times., 1911-10-27
THOMPSON PLAN WORST
CITY WAS EVER ASKED TO
VOTE on SAYS G. W MOORE
Inferior TO Codd and Breitmeyer
Propositions, Public Owner
ship Advocate Declares.
HOT SHOT FOR THE MAYOR
Executive Abandons Campaign
Slogan of mo Good Fran
chises But Dead Ones"

Il heartily agree with Mayor
peated during his last campaign, that
there arc no good franchises but dead
ones, said Attorney George William
Moore 10 The Times, in discussing
the plan now offered by the mayor
ion settling the street car question by
giving the Detroit United Railway a
new lease of life and fresh grip on
tue city streets just when the adj
vent municipal ownership seemed
close az hand,
Mr.. Moore was the author OF the
municipal ownership plan which was
about TO he submitted TO vote OF the
people when the supreme court in
teriered, holding that the Hally home
rule bill did not permit piece meal
amendments TO the city charter.
If the people are unwise enough
IN give the ID. IT, r. another franchise,
they will be in substantially the same
position IL years from now that they
are in today" continued Mr.. Moore.
We have been trying for years TO
get vote for the purpose OF ascer-
timing whether the people do or do
not want to own the street car sys-
ten, bur certain well-known in
tiuences have prevented. III a fran
chise is granted now, the same in
tiuences will prevent vote for IL
years more.
1T seems strange that the people
cent get a mayor who will give the
people an opportunity 10 vote on
mlnicipal ownership Mayor Codd Of
fored the best franchise ever tender
ee. with an option TO buy. but IL was
voted down because the people want
e1 municipal ownership Mayor Brett
meyer offered a franchise not quite
so good. also with an option to buy,
hut there was not sufficient public
sentiment in favor of IL TO warrant
vote.
Mayor Thompson was elected on
municipal ownership platform.
platform that declared against the
granting of any more franchises on
ary terms, His campaign slogan was,
There are no good franchises but
lead ones Now. after six months
OF secret negotiations with the ID. U.
T. from which the public was care
fully excluded, he asks the people TO
give the company a franchise not as
good as either OF the others, with an
: option TO buy
III Mayor Thompson wishes to car
ry out his campaign pledges, and II
The aldermen, 81 OF whom are pledged
IN writing to secure for the people
right TO vote on municipal ownership,
desire TO carry out their campaign
pledges, they will at once give the
people an opportunity by their votes
: TO say whether they do or do not de-
sire 10 own the street railway. Our
people for years have been asking
that right and | think IL should be
sranted them before the d. IT, r. is
accorded the privilege of submitting
this new franchise, just presented, to
a vote
AS TO the franchise itself, we have
as yet only a general statement as TO
what its contents will be, but a hasty
review OF that indicates. in my opin-
ion, that II is probably the worst
franchise the people have ever been
asked TO give.
The option clause apparently Is
pitfall and snare. Apparently il
would cost the city a great deal more
20 take over the property by accept
ing the option than by condemnation
proceedings. Then again. while the
option would bind the city, il would
not bind the bondholders, and IL the
city attempted TO enforce 1t, any bond
holder could apply for an injunction
TO prevent the contamination of the
sale and delay and ultimately pre-.
vent It,
ION the other hand. II the city pro-
ceeded TO condemn the system, IL
could get Jurisdiction over the stock
holders by making the d. u. r. de-
PENDANT. and OF all the bondholders
by making the trustee under the
bonds defendant. And when a judg-
ment was obtained In summary con-
demnation proceedings, the city could
pay the judgment and take immediate
possession and any further contests
would be over the proceeds. That is.
: the conditions would be reversed.
The city would be in possession. with
ample power to maintain that posses
sion.
Again ! say that ! agree with
Mayor Thompsons campaign slogan,
There are no good franchises. but
dead ones.
While the last legislature failed 10
, make any provision for the enroll
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