The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-20
BEAUTY BOARD
MEMBERS HAVE
TORRID RUMPUS
Bancroft and Brook Squabble
Over Work of City Palmer
Bennett
LATTER IS ORDERED
TO PRODUCE PLANS
Pending Receipt of These, No
Further Payments Will Be
Made to Engineer

The city plan and Improvement
commission DECIDED, Thursday after
noon, TO request T.. II. Bennett, OF
Chicago, TO file with the commission
copies OF the plans he has prepared
for city Identification in Detroit. TO-
gether with written descriptions OF
each plan.
The commission decided on such
action after session lasting TWO
hours devoted mostly TO torrid ex-
change of words between the warning
members who are at odds over the
payment OF an additional $4,000 TO
Bennett. Bennett has already received
81, 500, and Commissioner Barcroft
made the point that while sketches
have been exhibited TO the commits
sion. il has not so much as scrap
OF paper in it's possession to show
for the money. Pending the receipt
OF the plans thus far prepared by
Bennett, the commission will not adj
wise the council to pay the $1,000 held
up on the remonstrance OF BarcroIt
after the commission had approved
the bill.
There seemed to be a misunder-
standing between Bancroft and Com
missioner Moore as to the conditions
under which Bennett was employed.
Mr.. Moore said that the agreement
was solely with Bennett, while Bar
croft fatty contradicted this, saying
that the contract was with Daniel IL.
Burnham the noted engineer. now
dead. According to this contract,
Bennett, his assistant, was to draw
the plans under his direction, Bar
croft contended.
Bancroft introduced the subject by
Offering resolution instructing Ben
nett to submit his plans. In the end
the commission decided that a note
from the secretary to the architect
was sufficient, but this decision was
not reached until there had been a
warm exchange OF words between
Commissioners Brock and Bancroft.
Brock asked Bancroft for an ex-
PLANTATION of his statements in the
press criticizing the commission for
authorizing the second payment OF
$4,000 to Bennett and Benefits plans.
Brock moved to have the resolution
laid on the table, while Bancroft asked
to have it voted on first. after which
he would give Brock the explanation
he asked for. The commission, how
ever, decided to hear from Bancroft
first. Bancroft spoke in a low tone,
but straight from the shoulder, tell
ing the commission that il had ex-
ceeded its authority, and that unless
il obtains something to show for the
money spent, the commissioners might
personally be held accountable.
Brock then accused Bancroft or
ignoring the commission plans for
the proposed Michigan Central depot
esplanade, and drafting plan OF his
own which he sought to have the
council committee on streets indorse.
Brock also accused Bancroft OF re-
peatedly seeking interviews with
Henry b. Ledyard. chairman OF the
board OF directors of the Michigan
Central railroad. The inference left
by Brock was that Bancroft wanted
to get preferment for himself and
plans with Mr.. Ledyard. Brock said
that he had personally conferred with
Mr.. Ledyard and had been informed
by the latter that he did not care to
deal with individuals OF the board
and had not authorized Mr.. Bancroft
to do anything in his behalf: He pre-
ferred to deal with the commission
as a whole.
Bancroft denied vehemently Mr..
Brooks assertions and called on Com
missioner Campbell TO substantiate
what he said. Mr.. Campbell said that
in his judgment there was something
lacking about the Bennett plan OF
esplanade for the Michigan Central
depot, and that Barcroft's suggestions
were superior to Benefits. He said
that he and Bancroft had but one con-
ference with Mr.. Ledyard and that
was at the request of the council COM
mittee.