The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-11
COMMON COUNCIL
(oFFIcIAL)
FIRST SESSION OF COUNCIL OF 1911

! FIRST SESSION OF COUNCIL OF 1911.
Detroit. Tuesday. January. 10. 1911.
! In compliance with Section 10 OF
Chapter ! OF the Charter or the City
Of Detroit the Common Council was
called to order by the City Clerk.
| Charles A Nichols
The roll then being called. the fol-
lowing answered to their names:
First Ward-George A. owen, John
second ward--Charles w. Burton.
| James Vernon.
Third ward-winiam outman, VIII
| Fourth ward-Maurice ]. Heating.
Albert T. Allan.
Firth ward--Alois A. Deimel. David
sixth ward-John T. Thompson.
| George S. Field
seventh ward-Stephen s. Skrxycki
Eighth ward-John HARPER, John
! Grindley.
Ninth ward-Martin J. ostrowski.
Tenth ward-John c. Frey. Patrick
| o Brien.
Eleventh ward--Joseph L Theissn,
Fred W. Knapp.
Twelfth ward-Sherman Littlehelu.
Richard M Watson.
Thirteenth ward-Charies Z. Mo
| Carly. Louis Brozo.
| Fourteenth Ward-Andrew j. Walsh,
| Fifteenth Ward-George n. Ellis,
Thomas H. Lynch.
sixteenth Ward-Joseph F. Merritt.
seventeenth ward-Herman Schultz.
| Edward +. Keusch.
Eighteenth ward-Thomas f. Gin
| nan. William r. Zoeller.
| The aldermen then arose while the
City Clerk administered the oath OF
Office.
Election OF President and President
| FRO Tempore.
The clerk proceeded 10 call the roll
| for the election OF President. and the
| following was the result:
| For Alderman Gutman-Ald. Allan,
Brozo. Burton. Deimel, Ellis; Field'
Harpfer. Hindle. Keating,. Keusch
Koenig. Knapp. Littlefeld. Lodge
| Lynch, mccarthy. Mason. Merritt
! schultz, Skrzycki Theisen. Thompson.
| Tossy, vernor. Walsh, Watson and
Zoe Her.
aid. Gutman did not vote. .o,,nou
! having been recorded for Alderman
William Gutman for the office of Presi-
dent OF the Common Council. the
clerk declared him duly eiected 20
/ ON ,motion Of Alderman Gilman, the
clerk appointed Aldermen Koenig and
skrzyeki a COMMITTEES 10 escort '"e
! The committee escorted the new
| President TO the chair. The PresluenI
| In a few weli-choscn remarks, thahneu
| the Council for the honor conferred
The Council then proceeded TO the
election OF a President Pro Tempore
and the following was the result;
For Alderman John Grindley-Aid
! Allan, Rrozo, Burton, Deimel Ellis
| Field, Frey, Garvey. Gilman. Harp
Knapp. LittlefeId. Lodge. Lynch Nc
Carly. Mason. Merritt, oBrien, Os-
trowski. owen, Rosenthal, schultz
skrzycki, Theisen; THOMPSON anS zoaiIe1
Aid Grindley did not vote.
majority OF the Aldermen having
! voted for Alderman John Grlnuley lor
the President declared him duly elect
ed 70 sp ADOPTION OF RULES.
by pesoiyea That the rules governing
the Common Council OF 1910 be and arr
hereby adopted as the rules by when
the Council shall be governed Tor the
year lsli :. ,o,,ows
Ycas~Aid. Allan. Brozo. Defined
Ellis, Field. Frey, Garveyl, Ginnan
Grindiey, HARPER, Hindle. Heating
k oSse ,n N9eni Mcca Eap' Mason. Mer
ritt ~ Rrien. Ostrowski owen. Rosenthal
schultz, Skrzycki, Theisen. Thompson
Tossy. Vernon. Walsh, Watson Zoeher'
and the President.
Nays--None. -,
ON motion OF Aid. Gilman tho Presi-.
dent appointed Aid. Gilman, Lodge ana
Tossy TO wait upon his Honor; me
Mayor. and inform him that the Council
having organized, was ready 10 receive
any communication he might be pleased
TO transmit 49,, -,
instruction OF the President, waited upon
his Honor the Mayor. William b. Thomp.
son and escorted him to the Council
chamber The Mayor was formally IN
Ill m fAF n Ia
brief informal remarks proceeded TO the
reading OF his inaugural message as
follows:
MAYOR Thompson's Message.
To the Honorable the Common Council:
Genticmen-In Compliance with section
gb ehaDter T. OF the Charter OF the CITY
OF Detroit. l beg 10 submit herewith the
annual message OF the Mayor
Az your Honorable Body Is the local
legislative branch OF the Government, our
Citizens must look "a you for any better
ment OF municipal copdiuons. The char-
ter does not limit the suggestions OF tne
executive 10 the legislative prahch' pul
common sense dictates that only such
recommendation be made as are within
the power OF the Council TO accomplish.
The matters which appeal to me as ur-
gently necessary for your present con-
sideraticn | have herein outlined.
The street Railway situation.
For twenty years the city and the De-
troit United Railway, or It's predecessors,
have pe,,n engaged in bitter controversy
over the terms of existing franchises ana
OF franchises sought for by the several
traction companies. These controversies
have eyentuated In profound dlstrust OF
the part ~ the peopl, towards the street
railway company. An adjustment with
the company rs presently controlled.
seems very unlikely; in my Judgment the
ma iortty ~ our people have come To the
conclu sinn that tho only satisfactory ana
lasting settlement H. to be found I'm muni-
cIpal ownership of the street railway sys-
tenn Those who might not favor public
ownership on principle, have been forced
TO tile POSITION that In TINS eXlgency, the
city has ~ other alternative.
There g. now Jbnding before the Su-
preme Court -0f the state OF Michigan
suit ahicn invO&Xfs the right uf this city
to submit To the electors proposal 10 en-
gage in municipal ownership and opera
ton OF the street railway lines. We can
not anticipate what may be the terminal
ton OF the suit. ID the city l. successful.
the earliest possible date should be Sc
on March 18th "A municipal primary cleo
tion will be held. The election officers
and machinery will be- available at that
time without additional expense TO the
municipality. This date has the addition
al advantage that but few ofnces will be
in Issue az this primary, and the voter
will oe ia position To vote upon this Inn
by n multitude of candidates. or issues.
on the other hand. " the city should fail
In this litigation, the Council should lose
no time In takiny every step within its
power 10 adjust Itself TO the new situa-
ton. 80 as % submit this question
promptly to the public. The revised con-