The Detroit times., 1911-01-19
|DnLBUTIsTURNEO
DOWN HARD BY
COUNCIL
Oon1rmation of Contracts for Belle
IsIe and Palmer Park Privileges
Refused, Only One Member
Supporting Commissioner.
Aid Walsh Has Plan for Municipal
Operation Of Casino and Other
Concessions.

~ was quite JOLT the Cohhnloi
Council gave Park Commissioned
Myrtle p. Hurlbut. Tuesday night
when Ii refused, by vote OF "a to 1
70 confirm the contracts awarded BY
the commissioner for the privileges
on Belle Isle and I'm Palmer Park for
y the ensuing two years. The COM
missioner was requested to at once
advertise for bids for the privileges
and award contracts to the highest
bidder. There Is no way TO compel
aim to do this, but IL he should re-
fuse the council can continue to re-
fuse TO confirm his contracts, as IL
has right to do under the opinion
rendered by Chief Assistant Corpor-
alton Counsel Lawson last week. This
may mean a deadlock unless one OF
Geveral plans suggested by various
aldermen reach fruition. Aid. Vernon
was the one man to vote against the
resolution. He wanted the matter
laid over for week.
Aid. Walsh has an idea that Will
prove popular II 1t can be worked
out. He says he will ask Corpora
tion Counsel Hally to draft q measure
pr0viding for municipal operation OF
MI the privileges.
Here Ii chance to try out NUM-
cfpal ownership and operation IL We
ever had one," said the alderman To
The Times. Il don't see any reason
why we could not 60 into the restau-
rant business. The city could GER
tainly buy provisions as cheaply as
any private individual and could
serve II at rates much lower than
are now charged. for there would be
no profit. The boat and other
Drfyileges could be run the same
way. Belle Isle, is supposed to- be
the peoples play ground. 1t Is main
fa1ned by the peoples money. Let
~ give them something In return. in
otead Of letting our privileges to
private individuals, who are looking
only for their own pocketbooks, and
living inadequate service"
5 Aid. Walsh hopes to have his plan
ready for submission next Tuesday
night.
J. Aid. Gilman secured the adoption
0f resolution requesting the COM
mittee on city and charter amend
xpent to provide for the confirmation
0f all leases and contracts entered
Into by the various boards and com-
missions by the common council, The
xesolution contemplates the submis-
ION Of such an amendment to the
cIectors In the spring.
The discussion of the Belle Isle
Driyileges proved one OF the liveliest
that has marked the council sessions
Sor some weeks. Everybody seemed
anxious to take shot at the park
and boulevard and at VIM. Konen,
che present lessee of the casino. II
rave the new aldermen an opportun-
lfy to make their maiden speeches.
Aid. George Ellis, of the Fifteenth
ward, member Of the parks and
boulevard committee, was one Of the
foremost In support Of the resolution
Mapping Commissioner Hurlbut. Aid.
John Thompson, chairman OF the com
nittee, also strongly urged Its adop-
don. and incidentally roasted Lessee
K0nen for the unsatisfactory service
0fven In the casino last year.
The whole matter was threshcd out
a. committee In the afternoon, when
the commissioner was on the grill
<or q couple Of hours. Eddie" Bar
nett, of the board OF estimates, was
present and declared that, II he were
not city official. he would give $500
more than the amount Konen Is pay
Ing ($5.000) and would guarantee to
ave much better food than is now
ofIered.
"And I would make money at that"
~ added.
n the commissioner will accede TO
The councils request that he adver-
Use for bids, he could insist on an
iron-clad contract which could be re-
voked at any time the lessee failed
20 give the proper service. the alder
men figure.
Each of the new aldermen had a
bunch of resolutions ready to shove