The Detroit times., 1911-11-10

being opposed 20 the franchise and
In favor OF municipal ownership.
III the people want municipal own
ership. and II II IL a good thing, why
not have II now?" asks DR.. Pitcher.
IF II Is not good thing, lets not
have any reference TO II In the fran
chise. But what cannot understand
10, why the municipal ownership
clause Is put forth by the very advo-
Gates of the settlement plan, as the
strongest element In their plan, and
STILL they do not want TO see NUM-
cipal ownership voted on. right away.
You can call the plan a settlement
all you please, but II is a franchise,
nevertheless.
something. | think We have right
TO ask, and should know, just what
we are going 10 get for our side OF
the bargain. One thing that shouid
be taken care Of is the matter OF ex-
tensions. We are growing wonder
fully, out here. and while We are not
out as far as Woodward-ave., II Is
only a question OF a short time when
we will be. II ought 10 be guaranteed
that one three.cent fare will carry US
over any extensions made as the
| town grows.
And IL that rate, covering ali ex-
tensions, will interfere with good ser
vice. we might as well keep on pay
| ing fve-cent fares, and make the com
pany give better service.
City Should Control.
II think that the city should get
I -
as soon as IL can, and operate the
system. on the basis OF the best pos
sible service at the lowest rate or
fare, with the fare proposition less
important than real, good service,
which we are not getting now. And
II the ID. u X. will not give us good
service. in spite OF all the protests
on hve-cent straight fares. what
chance have we to get good service
on an eight.fora-Quarter scheduleE
A. J. Smith. reasurer Of the associa-
ton. is one who advocates the ac-
ceptance of the franchise.
81 am favorable TO municipal own
ership. but not at this time" says
Mr.. Smith. IF the ID. u. r. will give
eight tickets for a quarter, and give
good service, We have no right TO ask
for anything more. And | think that
to allow them to do that, the city
should pave between the tracks. In
my opinion, the city could not pave
between the tracks and give good ser
vice on a three-cent fare, under NUM-
cipal ownership
B. r. Aldrich, member Of the pub
lie Improvement and utility commit
tee, would like 10 see. municipal own
ership of the street railway, but Is
afraid that the city would not legally
be able to operate the car lines.
M. o. Would Carry.
There is no question In my mind
that municipal ownership would carry
IL put to vote" he says. There is
big sentiment for IL, all over the
city II knew that the city could
operate the car lines. would vote
for municipal ownership. myself, but
the franchise seems TO give tenn
porary truce in the long battle which
is preventing extensions and better
service.
Under its present status, the II. U.
r. Is bound hand and foot, and Is un-
able TO float stock necessary for inn
provements and extensions. and |
think the franchise proposition is
measure toward peaceable settlement,
with municipal ownership the even
tual outcome.%
Ralph Peckham, member OF the
same committee. Is for fighting the
matter TO a finish. right now, AID get
ting municipal ownership.
az think that public ownership Of
street cars Is just as important as
public ownership of streets. says Mr..
Peckham. "Only a few short years
aro. toll roads were everywhere. The
people had to pay for bumpy, unsatis-
factory rides on corduroy toll roads.
and when the first move for free
roads was made, the same old cry
went IN: The state can't make a sue
cess of free roads-we've got TO keep
on paving toll But we've got the
free roads, and they are good, and
we would laugh at anybody today that
suggested turning our roads over TO
private corporation.
Now, as to the municipal owner
shin clause in the franchise, II Mr..
Haily, whom admire greatly, can
frame any sort OF an ordinance
which is going to enable the city to
peaCaDly Duy the nOTlBdBeu ~. ". ~.
on six months notice, without set
Ting with the people who hold the
watered stock, dollar for dollar, he Ia
going to furnish a lot of new infor-
nation for business men who deal in
mortgaged properties.
Might As Well Fight Now.
"The city is going to get control OF
the d. U. r. only after a fight, and
good, hard fight, and we might just
as we'll go into II right now, and have
| It over with, as to bubble along with
the ID. U. r. and then have to fight,
anyway.
"As to municipal ownership and
private ownership, have only TO
roint to the water supply and the
gas supply of Detroit. We have the
cheapest and best water in the world,
and enough of II to waste. But no
body ever heard Of anybody lighting
HE gas burners and letting them run
wastefully"
Wilfred O. Bourbonnais, druggist
and a member OF the entertainment
committee takes the opposite view
10 that OF his chairman. and is out
for an immediate settlement.
Anything Is better than what we
have" says Mr.. Bourbonnais, "and I
am tired OF having the street car ques.
ton I'm politics That would be the
| trouble with municipal ownership IL