The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-04
VERNON SOUNDS WARNING
AGAINST THOMPSON PLAN
lOoati.a.a fron P... O.s.,

no IN auNOcaungy VIII the Detroit
United take advantage OF them? Sec
ton OF the mayors franchise desig-
mates interurban cars as any car
plainly designated as an interurban
car and operating for more than five
miles beyond the city limits on any
regular iIferurban route No limita-
ton Is placed upon the number OF
them that may be run, but the rate
OF fare on them Is fixed at FIVE cents
straight.
The opening up OF suburban sub
4. divisions five miles beyond the city
limits In the near future requires no
very great stretch OF imagination In
that event what proportion OF the cars
on our min thoroughfares is likely TO
be hve-cent cars? Would not the pub
TIC be given as few three-cent cars as
possible. crowded, uncomfortable and
nnhealthfnl,- thereby making the five
cent cars attractive Just as they are
now being made attractive by the nor.
rloie service OF the present three <ent
nhes! Or course the Detroit Unitee
should not do It, but there is no pro-
vision to prevent them doing so. and
everyone can Judge for himself what
the probabilities OF their doing so are
IL takes but little experience in
street car matters TO understand that
IL is less expensive to an operating
company to maintain a service over
weiFconstructed foundation, than over
one poorly constructed. or which has
necome bad through use. The fran
ehlse which Mayor Thompson advo-
Gates giving to the Detroit United,
bi'es that company absolute power
fTRat.. a.. "a
Track space, provided that they have
not been rebuilt within three years
and provided that the department OF
public works admits the work to be
necessary and does not do il. The
franchise further permits the Detroit
United to add 10 per cent TO the cost
OF the work and obligates the city TO
pay the bills. The commissioner of
public works has repeatedly asked for
money for this purpose. admitting the
necessity OF the work, but has failed
10 receive II through the action of
me board OF estimates. The commits
sloner Is quoted as saying that at the
present time "A million dollars worth
OF such work is needed. IL that were
done, II would mean an immediate
outlay OF III 100 900. a sum amounting
TO one.seventh OF the city tax for the
current year, or q trifle over Is per.
cent in taxation for that single item.
he sooner IL is done. the sooner will
the Detroit United's cost of main
flamenco and operation be reduced.
Under such circumstances what
course would the Detroit United be
expected TO follow?
In 1924. Mayor Thompson's fran
chise tells us that all existing fran
chises will expire That sounds fine.
but what of IL? The Detroit United
would then, although in possession
OF the streets. be under no further
obligation to operate under the pro-
visions OF the Thompson franchise.
What will prevent the Detroit United
then. from doing Just what they are
long now? They could charge five
ent fare If they saw III and once
more demand that the city OF Detroit
pay for a lower rate with further
bonus Given such an opportunity
what would the Detroit United be ex-
. rected 10 do? SSme one will in all
probability point TO the mayors
municipal ownership clause and say,
there is our preventive measure.
The municipal ownership clause gives
the Detroit United the right TO de-
mand payment in any one of four diff
fcrent ways, and the city no option
other than TO accept the method the
ID. Il. r. sees ft 10 designate II
goes without saying that the one
selected by the Detroit United will
be the one containing terms and con-
dltions the least possible for the city
10 comply with.
Three of the plans are somewhat
obscure and puzzling TO the average
layman, but one at least Is perfect
" clear to everyone that Is the one
providing for a cash payment. II
the terms OF the other plans are hard
or Ter the city, ii seems TO be at
least unnecessary, although the De
troit United could undoubtedly be
counted upon as awaiting themselves
of it's provisions How could the city
obtain the money to pay cash? The
law permits the city to bond itself
for such purpose, to the extent OF one
per cent OF its assessed valuation,
that would provide a little over four
million dollars. The city would be
obliged to raise the balance on 20
year security franchise that had first
been approved by the people Does
anyone believe that all OF the pur-
chase price except the four million
dollars could be raised in that man
ner?
The people should consider care
fully the past history of the Detroit
nited Railway in connection with its
treatment OF the publie,and in the
light of that history decide for them
selves what the future effects of the
provisions of Mayor Thompson's fran
chise are likely to be; theHN on Jan.
%. they will be prepared 10 decide
al the polls, this question which is OF
such vital Importance 10 our children