The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-11
Accepted and placed on file.
REMARKS OF THE RETIRING
ESTnENT

PRESIDENT.
At the conclusion of the regular
business of the Common Council for
the end OF the year 1910. the retiring
| President. Hon. Thomas f. Gilman.
before declaring the body adjourned
spoke briefly as follows:
Fellow Members OF the Common
| council:--It is not my desire to In
| fict speech upon you this evening.
but 1 believe IL Is not improper for
me to say a few words in concluding
] feel proud of the work done by
this Council while have been Its pre-
siding officer, though ! do not intend
to review II at this time. 1 particu-
larly desire, however. to congratulate
this body upon its promptness In re-
spending to the wishes OF the people
In submitting TO the people the civic
problems upon which they have de-
Inanded to be heard. Naturally the
most important question that has been
before this body during my !ncum-
been the street railway question. For
many years the street railway ques-
tion has been the great problem with
which the City of Detroit has had to
grappie As we all know, there are
powerful interests attempting TO con-
fuse the people on this question and as
one OF the results OF the logged de-
termination OF these persons, the peo-
pie of the City OF Detroit have been
denied the privilege OF expressing
their desires on this great question at
the polls. dnu the matter mas Deen be-
fore the Supreme Court on legal
technicalities. Technicalities. however,
never did and never will stop pro-
gress-
For myself desire to announce
that after having served as a member
OF this body from the Eighteenth
Ward since that district was taken in
to the city, and after having. during
that time. participated I'm the delibera-
lions and witnessed the vain efforts
OF this Council to make reasonable
arrangement with the Detroit United
Railway have concluded that the
only possible way out OF this great
complicated condition and the only
light that shines ahead OF the ordi-
nary citizen Is the municipal owner
ship of the street railway system. and
I'm that connection allow me to say
that | do not agree with the views
expressed in some quarters that only
property owners ought to be permit
ted To vote on this and other like
questions The common people may
not be able To regulate the high cogt
OF living and other things controlled
DO furnish the bone and sinew OF this
commonwealth and In most cases bear
the burden and pay the freight.
I am convinced that the incoming
Council ought not do anything about
street railway matters until we have
heard the decision or the supreme
Court on the question OF submitting
the whole problem TO the people
There Is another matter that ! can
not refrain from referring to In these
few remarks this evening After haN-
ing served In this Council in various
capacities for number OF years
have concluded from what i have
seen that one OF the most dangerous
propositions this body has TO meet II
that OF special privilege. This body
ought not TO make fish OF one and bait
OF another. Special privilege breeds
corruption. III large corporations aud
wealthy and influential individuals did
not from time TO time seek special
privileges we would hear less talk Of
scandal As the great legislative body
OF this municipality the Common
Council ought not TO have any favors
| TO pass out II shall be my aim when
| I step down FROM the position held by