The Detroit times., 1911-12-28
VIGOROUS ONSLAUGHT
AGAINST THOMPSON PLAN


they uOn extend US lhdl SOuittSl'
then they will owe MS public apol-
ogy."
Jeffries' talk was the longest of the
evening and was full OF fire from the
outset. lie devoted considerable at
tentlon TO Mr. McRae. and the Board
OF Commerce lie declared that In
advocating the Thompson franchise,
Mr.. McRae is betraying the people
who ride on Woodward-ave., and that
If the people who patronize that line
don't get any better service on three
cent fares than they now get Tor a
nickel. they'll have 10 blame the Board
OF Commerce. he said.
IF MIR. Thompson and MIR. Hally
had been as active for municipal own
ership as they have been for this or
dinance. what a great help IL would
have been TO the cause he said.
They seem TO have completely tanned
the common council. Whether there
has been any subjug6tion from other
sources, I'll leave the members OF the
common council TO answer for them
selves
Can't Be For Both.
The man who says he's for NUM-
cipal ownership and for the Thomp-
son ordinance at the same time is
either fool or a knave The grant
ing of another franchise to the ID. l..
X. would merely open up another
chapter for legal construction. This
ordinance is not "A step in favor OF
municipal ownership. but is intended
as step TO prevent IL. The hope OF
the ID. T. r. is that, II the franchise
carries, enough people will be salts
fied with the sop of threecent fares
TO give them following sufficient TO
prevent municipal ownership, with the
aid of the ID. L. RS well.known tao
tics.
II believe that the only way We
will ever get possession OF the street
railway system, is through condemna-
ton proceedings. II ought not TO
take more than year. AS matter
OF fact, we could get possession in six
months II we had the right kind Of
public officials men with an honest
purpose and the nerve 10 stand up
and fight We could carry on nego-
tiations for the bond issue AZ the
same time. and | think by the time
we were half through with the pro-
ceilings, the d. t. r. will be coming
10 us.
Every sane man knows that the
ID. U. r. intends TO make the reduc-
ton in fares. IL the ordinance goes
through. at the expense of service.
And what cinch il will be for the
ID. L. r. when il is building railroads
with the peoples money. The com
mon council has been so obedient in
this mater, suspect 1t will be obedi-
ent in larger matters when the COM
pany tightens ITS clutches on the pub
lie purse. II the people will vote for
municipal ownership they will take
the greatest incentive 20 corruption
that ever existed out OF the common
council. The Thompson settlement
will not settle: il will only tend 10
greater corruption.
The only safe way for the people
TO proceed when they go 10 the polls
Jan %. is to vote down the fran
chise, vote up public ownership. then
elect their street car commission and
proceed 10 condemn the street rail
way property. | think. when we are
about half way through with that pro-
, gram, the ID. u. r. will be coming
TO us, for II needs terminals for lis
extensive suburban system and with
those terminals at our disposals we
ought 10 be able TO drive a pretty
good bargain"
Aid. Gilman. in his talk, explained
that his bill was the Moore plan made
over by Mr. Hally, and Mr.. Hally told
him, he said, that il was a good bill
haf an N
Mr.. HaiIy Talks.
Mr. Hally was one of the first men
called upon and was given a respect
! full hearing. He told the meeting that
! in his judgment. the interests of the
city were well protected in the Gin
nan bill, and that il expresses the
meaning of its advocates. Speaking
OF the Thompson-Hal franchise, he
said:
I'm not an advocate OF the ordi
nance. do not believe that it is the
best in the world, and | do not think
IL could not be improved upon. II
has errors, TO be sure, errors due 70
human nature. but think it's the best
bargain il is possible for the city 70
get | think II is possible to operate
street railways for a lower fare than
is provided for In this franchise, but
| don't think you can get lower fare
from the ID. U. K.
There is provision in the old
Pingree ordinance that gives the city
the right TO acquire the lines in 1924
bur | do not think IL is a complete
and workable provision. There is a
gap in It that would be hard to get
over There Is no gap in the pur'
chase clause OF the proposed ordi-
nance, In nay Judgment believe ii
will accomplish what il is intended 10
accomplish
"A great deal is heard about the
iniquity of the word franchise II
has come TO be regarded as a sort OF
bugaboo, and | am reminded OF the
time in French history when there
were riots in the streets over the
veto, which the people regarded as
some wild animal which roamed the
streets. A franchise is simply the
right TO be or do. Every kind OF II
cense Is a franchise. The man who
runs a saloon. or the man who drives
a hack is operating under fran