The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-11

one regret for the work and worry IL
mas caused and the time and patience
II has consumed. This l believe should
be the attitude OF every public spirited
man.
IL IL possibly true that business men
who seek public position md them
In accomplishing those things which
they consider best for the public gOod.
Dut I'm my opinion the best remedy Tor
this trouble would be the further
participation In public affairs by bust
ness men II our important places
We're held more often by business men
and less often by self-seeking poli +.
ticians the rule OF petty politics would
be greatly weakened.
During the past two years ! nave
endeavored TO do what I could for thn
public good according 10 my best JuuS'
Inent | have no word OF CRITICISM Tor
those who have opposed me, | return
my sincere thanks 10 those who have
assisted my efforts.
i still believe that I'm the one matter
of a street railway settlement. the ef-
forts made were In the right direction.
and that had the settlement proposed
been carried through and presented 70
the people IL would have received their
appreciation and would have saver
them much money in street car faTes,
at the same time securing for them
much better service. That enort at
settlement not having been successful
L wish TO say now that l have nothing
successor i'm office In dealing with this
question. and regardless or his pollt-
Ical creed and beliefs | pledge myselr
In advance To give him every assist
ance within my power toward the ac-
complishment OF any settlement based
on civic honesty and practtcabiltiy.
In presenting this nnal message 10
your honorable body l wish To make
one suggestion concerning legisla ION;
and that is that more dispatch be had
in taking up formal communication
from the Mayor. no matter who he msy
be There have been number or times
during my administration when sng-
gestions from me a. Mayor, OF things
which in my Judgment should be done
for the public good have not been dis
posed OF either by adoption or reJec-
ton. ! call 10 mind particularly a
communication relative To the neces-
slty OF some law for the governing OF
the small lying-in hospitals. where
many things irregular to the medical
profession have occurred I'm the past
call 10 mind az well the suggestion
made by me during the latter part or
the year 1909 relative to certain prop.
critics alleged To he held by the Michi
gan State Telephone Company al
though properly belonging 20 the City,
which should have reverted TO the City
long ago. These are but samples or
what has happened many times. In the
one case no action was ever taken; In
the other action has dragged for nearly
year and a half although / under
stand that the wheels have az last
turned 10 where something may be
done
The executive and legislative depart
ments are coordinate branches OF the
city government. and request or
suggestion coming from the executive
department should at least be disposed
OF by the legislative department. do
not mean TO argue that any suggestion
made by the chief executive should be
adopted. but do believe that such mat
tiers as come TO the Common Council
from the Mayor should he adopted or
rejected with a fair degree OF prompt-
ness. 1 am sure that III your honor
able body will but exercise n little
more diligence in this line the proeress
OF city business will be greatly facilit-
ated.
Before closing I want TO say one
word about the future development or
our city. Two years ago In my hrst
message TO you / took occasion TO call
attention TO some OF the needs OF the
City made imperative by our wonder
full growth and Industrial development.
have been criticised because In my
official acts l have always urged that
with the growth OF the City even at
the expense of somewhat higher
taxes. This still believe. We must
have schools In which TO educate our
and fire protection for their lives and
property, and We must invest the
money necessary TO build our trunk
sewer systems so that as the property
and TO provide parks and Fairgrounds
for the present and future generations
Whether the large sums OF money
which these absolutely necessary
things will cost Is TO be raised entire
bond issue which future generations
will help to pay Is a matter for the
present and future administrations 10
answer. but however the money shall
be raised Ii must be raised and wisely
expended The City Of Detroit cannot
stand still IL has a wonderful future
II It's public servants will be frank
enough and honest enough with them
selves and with the people to meet the
Citys needs fairly and squarely with
out hiding behind the time-worn plea
that the taxes must not be raised.
Every right thinking man In the COM
munity IL willing 10 pay his share ror
necessary improvements honestly
made, and your greatest duty Is TO see
that these improvements are made and
that the City realizes the glorious fu-
ture which Is before IL
Respectfully submitted.
PHILIP BREITMEYER.
Mayor.
Accepted and placed on file. N
Remarks OF the Retiring President.
At the conclusion OF the regular
business of the Common Council for
the end OF the year 1910, the retiring
President, Hon. Thomas Z. Gilman.
before declaring the body adjourned,
spoke briefly as follows:
Fellow Members OF the Common
Is not my desire to in
nict a speech upon you this evening
but i believe 81 IL not improper for
me TO say a few words in concluding
my term as President OF this body
feel proud OF the work done by
this Council while I have been Its pre-
siding officer, though I do not intend
to review IL at this time. ] particu-
larry 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-
lnanGed to be heard. Naturally the
most important question that has been
before this body during my incum-
bency OF the office OF President has
been the street railway question. For
many years the street railway ques-
L. L. Il . - IL LA a