The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-11


for so,l, and we should hasten TO take
Ia hts same connection. | urge that
you .ecommend 10 the Legislature, anu
particularly 10 the delegntlon repreSei..
ing this municipality Ia that body, me
passage of a comprehensive condemnation
act WhlVn Will completely empower lht
cry OF Detroit 90 condemn the prlN"te
property Of public utility companies, 80
that N the city embGrks upon any NUM-
cipal cnturpriss. a may carry along the
enterprise under the same ADVANTAGEOUS
conditions now enjoyed by private opera
tors The cottage OF the humblest ciu-
zen has 70 give way to the pnhllc heru,
Why should the franchise right OF tne
easemen; in the street owned by private
concern alone impede the public IN JUS
progress?
our city has been blessed with mar,
velous growth In population and malsrial
wealth. Every department. has han :"
make additional expenditures to meet the
expanding of the city needs, year aIter
year has passed With no additional street
car tracks; We arc now e9nIrohte' og
dcmonStIated--if such demonstratlon
were neccSsary-the folly OF the CITY
placing itself at the mercy OF private
corporation.
We have asked the company repeatedly
for relief In vain, Your Honorable BODY
in the spring OF 1910. passed seNer'h
resolutions for needed extensions "hlch
were subsequently, accepted by the com,
have brOugE great relief. Not loot OF
track has been laid. All your hrmhess
and ingenuity should be directed toward
the securing OF these needed extensions
| call your attention TO the woetul
inadequacy OF the service given on
every lire now operated. rms is
brought home To you daily In the per-
sonal use which YOU make OF the cars
What have YOU done about 1T Nhat
are YOU going 10 do about ~ liz IL
possible that for another year; without
action on your part. you viii permit
/ the Detroit United Railway TO carry
our citizens as the humane laws OF the
| state would not permit dumb beasts
| TO tie transporter
recommend that you disregard the
pending law suit In the Circuit Court
OF the United States which was brought
during my previous administration 10
| test the validity OF an order TO compel
| "a sufriciency OF cars so that each car
would not be expected TO carry In ex-
| cess OF it's seating capacity and one
! half as many more; and that YOU take
| action looking TO Immediate reuei'
When city. upon an important propo-
| sition OF this kind waits beyond
period OF two years for u decision from
| a court no one should be heard 10
| complain II it's patience Is exhausted.
| IL Is idle TO presume that. the city Is
powerless. When IL takes a ieterm-
| ined stand. results inevitably follow.
You have an illustration OF this IN
| what was accomplished under me or
| dinance that you passed compelling
| this company To equip It's cars win
| sufficient heating and ventilating ENs-
| tenn To save itself from prosecution
| and its officers from possible tmprison-
| ment, the company contracted for the
| equipment of its rolling stock 10 COM
ply with the ordinance.
| AS TO the litigation pending between
the city and the ID. L, r. While this
| company continues 20 maintain ITS hos
tile attitude toward the city. no sug-
gestion should be entertained TO dis
continue the city's struggle Tor
judicial declaration OF our right TO
| control our own property. The suit
| instituted by the company through It's
| bond holders in the federal court 10
prevent the enforcement OF the Hally
| ordinance has involved In IL the prin-
| ciple that Detroit cannot make a pub
| lie offer for the future use or Its
| streets, and that term franchise Is
| unending In point OF time. The suit
| started by the city in the Wayne Cir
| cult Court TO collect revenue for the
use OF the unfranchised Fort wayne
system will determine whether TINS
| city or one OF Its favored grantees can
continue on it's own terms and In de-
| hance TO constituted authority 10 use
| the streets which the sovereign state
OF Michigan has placed under the con-
troll OF the people or this city.
Water Department Extensions.
In contrast with the Indifference or
this private corporation to the public
| welfare. II is gratifying 10 notice the
preparations being made by the De-
troit Water Commissioners TO meet the
ever-increasing demands OF our city
for a wholesome and adequate water
supply. In a public spirited and praise
| worthy manner these municipal ontcers
| not only intend TO meet present de-
mands. but TO anticipate those OF the
| future: and whatever you may be call
| ed upon TO do To assist them, by way or
| charter amendment or submitting the
question OF issuing bonds, l trust You
L will promptly and Willingly.
Civil Service.
At the recent municipal election
there was presented and adopted by
the electors OF this community law
which places all employees OF the city
under the protection OF civil service
rules during their good behavior. The
mandate Of the people should be re-
spected. and the law given fair ana
generous trial Under IL, municipal
employees know that their tenure or
| office is dependent not upon the ca
price OF some political manipulation, or
| a change OF administration. but solely
| upon their fulfilling. In an able ana
conscientious way. the duties assigned
TO them.
Park and boulevard Contracts.
while ago. your Honorable Body
was called upon TO approve certain
| contracts entered into by the Depart
privileges on Belle Isle. No competi-
! tive bidding was required in connec-
ton with these contracts. THIS is an
unwise and dangerous policy The
money, property and privileges con-
trolled by any department are con-
| trolIed by that department as trus-
| tee for the public: and IL Is the duty
OF the trustee to secure Tor the puDiIc
| the greatest possible advantage for the
/ expenditure OF the money, the disposal
| OF the property. or the giving or a
privilege | know OF no way In which
| he can assure himself that he ~ get
ting value unless he calls for bids, The
| system OF public bidding preciudcs
vicious favoritism. Your Honorable
| Body should decline 10 approve all
such contracts unless open competition
has been had in their making.
Play Grounds.
Detroit has. in a modest way, In
augurated system OF public play
grounds as III adjunct to the Depart
ment OF Education. Each year should
see son additions made TO this sys-
tenn The constantly growing conges-
ton OF the city demands IL. Probably
the wiser course would be 10 take this
into consideration when purchasing
sites for additional school buildings.
Also. some OF the outlying small
parks could be used for play ground
purposes A small park, with few
dover beds. pathways, shrubs and
fountain presents nothing more than
a little breathing spot, and pleasant
picture II would be better utilized az
a place for children 10 freely rOmp ana
play
Permanent Election booths.
IL seems strange that in a commun-
Ity existing under our form OF govern
ment no attempt has ever been made
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