The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-16

The following analysis OF the Thomp.
son-Hutchins franchise represents
months work OF sacrifice on the part
OF a band OF Detroiters who have been
turning the midnight oil and who
withhold their names that the result Of
their labors may be viewed from an
entirely impersonai standpoint.
The Times wishes, however, co.
vouch for the men who have prepared
clear and convincing statement. a8
public-spirited citizens whose interest,"
is alone that OF good government. pub
lie economy and fair play for the peo-
pie OF Detroit, just now exposed to
another franchise grab.
READ 1T.
1t will enable you to vote intelligegt-
ly on the proposition Mayor Thowp-
son recommends, but from which the
Detroit United railway. alone, will
profit in the long run.
1t is your duty, not only to yourself
but to coming generations, your chill.
dren and grandchildren, to digest care
fully every point that Is made for you
It contains the views OF prcmineat
lawyers, business men and taxpayers
and the figures OF experts, and Is a.
follows:
This ordinances Is declayed 10 be
'suppiemental and subject 10 the De-
troit railway ordinance.
Why Is the phrase "suDJgct TO- used
by the trainers?
Possibly. because in section 4 OF the
Detroit railway ordinance overhea4
trolley wires are required 70 pe ueer.
| from ordering the ID. u r.. to try un~
derground trolleys. storage bat<erIes
! or any other device which would iu<<
ppoMer po,r ns elsnt us ana q oSsrsesd verb sddipment
Perhaps II 10 becanse the Company
| is allowed to use wooden poles. tnua
necessarily endangering life and prop
but more probably the reason IL be-
cause Sec 20 establishes q method by|
which the city should II wish to taka
over the property In 1924, must pay
rather than take II at Its junk value
| os much as IL might require. REJECTING
all other. as would re the case wcre
there no other method prescribed by
| franchise agreement.
IL may be that the words 'subject
| to" are for the purpose of granting
/ to the D.. u. II. privileges confirmed py
Sec. 10. which gives them First right
to streets" or In other words. monop-
| oily against any and all persons what
soever OF the transportation business:
surface. overhead and subway until
1924
The terms of this ordinance grant
20 the d. U r the privilege until 1894
of operating merchandise and express
cars, and which right they now pos
sess only as revokapIe permiss.g,n.
upon fixed terms and conditions only
over such portions OF their lines a.
are still operated under franchise -
(Sec OF Ordinance. April ls. lsoi-l
city 30 cents per car. Is in the Eature
OF a license for use OF land only. ~
the city has to maintain the track
foundations these heavy cars woulu 90
far more damage than the amount oL
I'm 10 the present time no special
ordinance has been passed recognising
the difference between interursan sna
/ urban cars. For preservation OF the
tracks and foundations a limit or
weight for any car (except wreck. dcr-
/ rick and like occasionally used cars1
r, Is moi apparent wherein the citi-
| zens of Detroit are benefited by allow
| ing either OF the freight or interurhan
| cars over its streets while II 10 evi-
dent that this privilege is OF great
value to the ID. ~. r.. Why not insist
| on proper remuneration or their pro-
hibftion altogether
BY the way. ali this freight buxiness
/ Is handled, for some reason known
only to the ID. U. r.. by an indepeu-
dent corporation the Electric Depot
Co.
| Section =. This section Is ciheuy re-
| markable for the phrase "as OF 1stt"--
| as pertaining to the present status OF
| the companys existing franchises.
Note that the d. u. r.. has not sc-
| knowIedged the expiration OF any
| franchise and sheltering itself behind
such corporation intrenchments as Sec.
] 6447, OF the compiled laws OF Micht-
gan of 1897, claims perpetual rights In
any streets they have once occupied
| This Is the condition OF the fran
chise "ns OF 1911" The ordinance
should include a concise statement OF
ali the franchises granted 20 street
railways now a part OF the ID. U. X.
setting forth clearly the expiration
dates and the acceptance OF this should
he required OF the d. q. r. In place
OF the tight little phrase "as of 1911
Section 4. This ordinance has been
called by its advocates three-cent
ordinance II that Is so, then why not
say the fare Is three cents or. as IN
Toledo. ave tickets for rs cents. But
the ordinance says speci1cally: The
rate OF fare for a single ride shall be
five cents In order TO get cheaper
rate one must he In possession or -
cents III the company can anord 60
carry for ST. cents a passenger who II
n capitalist 10 the extent OF 25 cents.
| why should II charge Eve cents 20 tho
poor devil who has only - cents be-