The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-24
CITY 0W WNERSHIP
PLAN OUTLINED
BY HALLY
Proposed Charter Amendment Calls
For Five Commissioners To Be
Either Elected by People or
Appointed by Mayor.
New System To Be Built If Bargain
For D. U. r. Lines Isn't Made
In Six Months.

Corporation Counsel Hally on Satur-
day completed the draft of the munich
pal ownership amendment which 1t is
planned to submit to the people as
soon as Is practicable after Aug. 1.
The draft will be presented to the
committee on charter and city legis-
lation. Monday noon.
Two alternative sections are provid-
ed for the selection of the commission
ers. One provides that Ave shall be
elected by the people for a term Of
two years, and shall all be elected at
once. The other is that five commits
sioners shall be appointed by the
mayor for terms OF one to five years,
their successors to be appointed one
each year for ive-year terms In case
OF election, the names are to be on
non-partisan ballots, separate from the
special election ballots. In the prim-
aries, all entrants shall be on one bal
lot, and the 10 receiving the highest
number OF votes shall have their
names placed on the election ballots.
Provision Is made for bonding the
commissioners. The sections empow-
ering the board to proceed to the pur-
chase, requirement or construction OF
street railway system, Is about like
that in the old Moore plan. Six
months Is allowed for the board to
make contract for the purchase of
the ID. u. r. lines, failing which, II
Is to proceed to the purchase of ma
terials for the construction of a new
system.
A change from the old plan is made
I'm that any contract for purchase or
condemnation shall be void unless ap-
proved by three-fifths OF the electors
voting thereon IN any general or spe-
cal election. The council is directed,
or request of the board, to issue bonds
to the extent of one per cent of the
taxable property, for the purpose of
securing the street railway system.
Further bonds for the purchase price
must be upon the property of the sys-
tenn
N One new section Is added. II pro-
vides that the common council shall
not issue and the board shall not re-
quest the council to issue any Of The
bonds authorized unless the issue shall
be approved by three-fifths OF the elec-
tors voting thereon in any general or
special election.
The board is given the management
of the street railway system, both as
to construction and operation, as full
ly and completely as II 1t represented
private owners, but 1t shall report
their doings regularly to the common
council.
The rate Of fare is to be sufficient to
pay and the board shall cause to be
paid operating expenses, including
paving and watering between the
tracks: taxes on the physical property,
the same as II privately owned; fixed
charges; a sufficient per cent per
annum to provide for the payment at
maturity OF the bonds issued.
The board is allowed to sell heat.
light and lower, but only from its sur
plus. and not below cost Provision
is also made for the sale Of all by
products. Damage suits because OF
the railroad systems operation shall
be considered as against the city, but
shall be paio as far as possible, out OF
the revenues Of the system.