The Detroit times., 1912-06-05
DAY-TO-OAY AGREEMENT OR
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP ONLY
REMEDY FOR TRACTION ILLS
- JOHN c. LODGE.
Alderman Finally Convinced of
utter Folly" of Further
Advocacy of Franchise
LIKES CLEVELAND PLAN
Peter Witt Talks to Council On
Benefits of Municipal Con-
troll of Utilities
LIKES CLEVELAND PLAN

Il am convinced that II is utter fol.
ly &c talk to the people OF Detroit
about granting a street car fran.
chise," said Aid John c. Lodge TO
The Times Immediately following the
Peter Witt, street railway commits
sioner OF Cleveland, Tuesday night.
Aid. lodge supported the Thompson
franchise, and has frequently declared
himself unalterably opposed 10
municipal ownership.
The people won't nave It," Mr..
Lodge continued, referring to fran.
. chise, II believe II is impossible TO
grant "a franchise with the law reQuir.
Ing &c per cent fainable vote. am
In favor of q day-to-day arrangement
with the ID. U, r., or municipal own
ership. There Is no getting away from
the fact that the city Is badly Grip
pied for street car facilities and II Is
/, getting TO point where something
must be done. II the ID. u. r. takes
The attitude that cit cannot borrow
money and continue business with a
day.to-Gay arrangement with the city;
then | should say to the ID. u. r.,
Get OF the streets and let the
municipality run the lines
II believe we would rather do busi-
Hess with the company now owning
the property IL we could do II without
granting a franchise than have years
OF litigotion to force II OF the streets.
But the company would have to bind
itself 10 an agreement 20 give US the
lowest rate OF fare possible con-
sistent with reasonable rate of In
terest on its investment, The city
would have something to say about
its management | have not mode a
atudy OF the Cleveland plan, but,
roughly. ] would say / would favor
that kind OF plan In Detroit, the COM
pany to run the lines under a day-to-
day agreement, with rate OF fare
sufhc:cnt to pay all expenses and In
terest OH investment. and the city to
have a hand In the administration of
the eo:apany's AFFAIRS
Nj. Witt. who was formerly city
clerk OF Cleveland. was visiting
friends in the council chamber when
invited to make speech on motion
OF Aid. Lodge, who did not know Witt
personally.
Witt was once poor boy; later he
NOrkCQ ds Stove nOuiuel anu HHhl-
W he drifted into politics In Cleveland
when the star OF Tom l.. Johnson was
In it's ascendency. He is a fluent and
convincing speaker, but he was unpre.
pared 10 make speech to the council.
lie began by "sparring Tor breath" by
referring fecetiously TO the baseball
gamc between the Cleveland and De-
tGoit council teams of other days, and,
Just about the time the aldermen We're
concluding that Witt wasn't very
entertaining speaker he let loose a
flood OF oratory apropos OF the street
car question which brought applause
from the council
The street car problem is always
With us in Cleveland as II Is with you
in Detroit and as II is with most
cities he said. since there are not
enough automobiles to carry all the
people We must have street cars to
carry them. Some people are in favor
OF high rate OF fare, some favor a
low rate, and there IS always the
problem. which rate is the right one,
Just tC the people and just TO the
(Continued on Page Ten)