The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-17
GLASGOW ADDS
LINK TO PUZZLE
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presented TO Senator James, yester-
day, a department bill, and does the
commission o. X. L.? IL IL does, IL
can be passed easily?'
And In reply, the chairman stated,
NO, sir, IL Is not a department bill,
and the commission does not vouch
for II; we are not interested In a.,
and have not even read IT.
The party making the inquiry said.
Senator James wants TO know but
the senator advises the commission
he did not do the telephoning.
The following day the chairman Of
the commission was, upon request
before the railroad committee OF the
senate, In company with Hon. John
j. Carton and the chairman OF the
railroad committee of the house, dis
cussing several proposed amendments
TO the railroad and express bill, then
before the committee. At the close
OF this discussion the chairman OF the
senate committee asked, What has
the commission TO say as 10 the
Is before the senate for considera.
tom
Chairman Glasgow replied, We
know very little about that bill. II
has not been considered by the COM
mission, and | desire here. to have
II understood, that IL Is not a depart
ment measure, and while 1t may have
some merit, would probably need
careful consideration, and possibly,
amendments.
After Senator Miller, of the CON-
mittee, had explained the bill fully,
Chairman Glasgow added, II that IL
the purpose of the bill, in my judg
ment, il would be unwise for the COM
mittee to report II favorably or the
legislature TO pass Il, without giving
the people of the cities affected there
by an opportunity to be heard The
motion was then made and carried.
that 1t be not reported out Senator
James, II was stated, had not appear
ed before the committee In its behalf.
The commission, or any member
hereof, never vouched for the bill or
urged it's passage. The bill had not
been considered by the commission,
two OF the members not having seen
It."
I'VE have no definite knowledge as
to the statements claimed to have
been made by Mr.. Darwin, but will OBJ
tain the same upon his return to the
office. We can assert positively, that
the bill was not prepared by the de-
partment, or with the commissions
knowledge or consent, and we have
no definite information where or by
whom Il was drafted. As to its merit,
IA l.. .alI Id. Axr -
legislative authority, that there was no
Joker" whatever that may mean) I,
as was claimed in the bill, and that
IL is a good bill and all right, but sim
ply represents one phase OF the big
street car fight in Detroit.
I'VE are pleased herewith to offer
a voluntary statement, furnished the
commission by the railroad committee
Of the senate, which We feel fully dis
proves the assertion that Senator
James, the railroad commission or Its
chairman were in any unusual or ir-
regular manner connected with the
bill or Its presentation.
The chairman Of the commission in
free to state that he, personally, be-
lieves the time Is not far distant. when
bill will be passed by the legisla-
ture, which, while II may not take
from cities their right to grant fran
chises and their protection Hereunder,
will grant to some disinterested board
larger measure Of authority over the
operation and regulation OF street and
interurban railways, and thereby In.
crease their efficiency, and relieve
them from the burden of complying
with varying local political condl-
tons"
Statement by Senate Committee:
The James bill, relative to put
ting interurban railroads under
the supervision of the state rail-
road commission. came up before
the senate committee on railroads
on Tuesday, April 18th. 1911, Mr..
Glasgow, chairman OF the commits
sion. being present, at the request
OF the committee, which at the
same time had under consideration
several other bills.
Mr.. Glasgow stated to the COM
mittee that, while he considered
that the bill had certain merit, he
wished to state that IL was in no
sense commission bill, and that
II required careful consideration,
and doubtless, amendments, before
II should be enacted into a law.
The bill was thereupon discussed
by the committee and II was unan-
imously decided on the same day
that the committee would not rec
ommend the passage OF the bill.
Senator James did not appear be.
fore the committee In behalf of
the bill.
(Signed)
WALTER r, TAYLOR,