The Detroit times., 1911-07-22
NsURGENT S LINE
|UP WITH MAYOR
| ON BRICK ISSUE
ew Aldermen Who Listened To
-Politics' Cry and Helped Pass
Bill Over Thompson's Veto, Are
Now With Him.
kttler Tests, Showing City Is Get
hing a Raw Deal, Converts Them
Won't Be Led Around.

An insurgent movement has devel-
bed among the new Republican mem
ers OF the common council as re-
IL OF the revelations made by the
ty's new brick rattler.
In the beginning OF the controversy
etween Mayor Thompson and Public
forks Commissioner Haarer over the
lality OF the brick being used In De-
Oft streets. the new members were
ciined TO take their cue from their
lore experienced COLLEAGUES and fol-
|wed their lead complacently. When
Ie mayor submitted his first veto OF
bving brick bills transmitted by Com
issioner Haarer. these aldermen
ere told that the mayor was simply
fourfiushing" In an effort to force
aarer's resignation and secure con-
|ol OF the office that he might build
b machine to help him In his CAM
hign for a third term.
Naturally, the new aldermen turned
and voted with the old crowd to
ass the bills over the mayors heaG.
nd several of the Democratic alder.
ben lied with them.
. This happened two or three times.
b the meantime. the mayor continued
Ii inquiry into the brick question and
ubmitted proof that an inferior quail
~ of brick was being foisted upon
he city. The new members wonder
d then IL they were not being mis-
bd. They got their heads together.
This business OF passing bills over the
hayor's veto was not altogether TO
|heir liking? Perhaps the mayor was
light, after oil, and how would their
constituents view their attitude? That
Eas a question that called for careful
II has been three weeks since the
founcil tried TO pass any brick bills
In defiance or the executive, nor Is IL
likely that any attempt will be made
for some time to come. The two
patches OF bills that are now on the
liable. under vetoes are due for a long
|leep.. II requires two-thirds. vote
20 overrule the mayor. The old crowd
has been counting noses and finds that
I Is several shy of the requisite num-
Der. Besides. the public is aroused
bver the poor showing made by sew.
eral OF the nine brands Of brick used
Dy the department OF public works, In
The commissioners own tests.
Why the commissioner should buy
the brick shown to be the poorest In
such large quantities and practically
gnore the brick showing the least
abrasion is q conundrum to the alder.
men who are really taking an interest
In the investigation. On behalf OF
the commissioner, II Is argued that
the, rattler Is not working properly as
yet, and Boiler Inspector Mccabe, who
made the tests for the mayor, admits
that the engine Is not a suitable one
Tor this purpose. However, the bricks
that made snch poor showing In the
tests made at the mayors instance in
Columbus made a correspondingly
poor showing In the local tests, while
there was very little variation in Bes.
semer, for instance. So the local
tests have not been altogether worth.
less.
At any rate, the new Republican
OF the council have insurged,
and they propose to stand by the
mayor as far as the brick controversy
Is concerned. In the meantime, the
rattler tests will go on and the mayor
VIII continue to veto bills for brick
that do not come up to the standard
required by the contracts.
We have been led around by the
nose long enough" said one of the 'in-
surgents" to The Times, Saturday.
We believes the mayor ir right In the
position he has taken and We are
going to stick with him to the finish,
or until II Is shown that he is wrong" "