The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-17
MAYOR THOMPSON TALKS
ON HIS SETTLEMENT PLAN
Provides Short Cut To City
Ownership, He Tells BHsi-
ness Mems Association.

In the absence of Victor Berger,
the Socialist congressman from Mil
waukee, who sent word that he was
unable TO be present, Mayor William
Il. Thompson was the principal speak
er at the annual banquet of the North
western Business Mems association,
held in the pickling plant OF the Will
liams Bros. Co., Thursday night.
About 300 were in attendance and the
affair was most enjoyable one in
every way. Frank ID. Eaman was
toastmaster. -
Mayor Thompson, for the first time
since giving out the details OF his
street car settlement plan, publicly
discussed the proposed franchise,
which. it is now expected, will be sub
mitted to the common council next
Tuesday night. He wanted 1t under
stood. at the outset, that he was max
ing neither a defense of nor apology
for the proposed settlement plan, ad-
ding that he did not believe that a
plan providing eight tickets for
quarter, with universal transfers and
for needed extensions and giving the
city an option to buy at any time on
six months notice, called for any de-
fense or apology "in the city OF Hazen
S. Pingree."
The purposes OF the proposed fran
ehise, he said, were two fold:
"To place the city in a position to
take over, within a reasonable time,
the street railway city system, by
purchase, in case the people want to
do so, and vote to do so.
"Or, if the people don't want muni-
cipal ownership, to get cheaper fares
and better service under private own
ership. Also, even il the people do
want municipal ownership, TO get
cheaper fares and better service
while they are getting ready, through
the proper legal preliminaries, to take
over the city system for municipal
ownership purposes.
"In case that the people elect to
buy the city system, there are two
things which, above all others, will
vitality concern them: First, the price
TO be paid; secondly, the title to be
secured" continued the mayor. 1T
is clear that we do not want to pay
an outlandish price. and we have
guarded against any such contingency
by having the purchase considered a
nullity until the people vote TO pay
the price fixed by the appraisers.
Now, as TO the title, we have been
laboring assiduously to get the agree
ment in such shape as to feel certain
that the company's contract of free
and clear title Is not mere empty
phrase to tickle our ears and deceive
our minds.
Before this tentative agreement
was even made public at all, served
noLice that there would be no settle
ment with me unless I was certain
that the city could get a free and
clear title for the agreed purchase
price in case the people voted TO buy
the system.
'I think that the shortest cut to
municipal ownership is by purchase,
II we can get a marketable title at
fair price But while we are going
through the necessary preparatory
steps to adopt municipal ownership.
or in case the people refuse 10 adopt
municipal ownership. we have cheap
er fares and much-needed extensions"
The mayor was applauded during
his speech, but there were plenty OF
evidences of the divided sentiment
that exists among the members of the
association as to the settlement plan.
Congressman Frank +. Doremus
gave a brief talk on Pending legisla-
ton" touching on the proposed pub
lie utilities commission for the Dis
trict OF Columbia, the parcels post
and the bill to regulate the operation
OF the Panama canal.
Secretary Lucius f. Wilson. of the
-DerrUfr- -fsUaru- Commerce, -urt
Judge Van Zile were other speakers.
Louis Columbo and William II.
Lempke sang.