The Detroit times., 1912-01-24
snow FOR MUNICIPAL
OWNERSHIP"-McVICAR


grab would have been far greater had
not the form in which the proposition
was submitted on the ballot been q
clean-cut fraud, misleading many as
TO the real issue. The misleading
statements with regard 10 the three
cent fares, and the untruthful asser-
ton that anything In the franchise
provided for municipal ownership also
had some effect
Even the better element In the
Board OF Commerce was forced to lie
down during the final days OF the
, campaign from sheer disgust with the
methods of those with whom they had
thrown In their lot. at first. At no
time was more than threeeighths OF
The membership OF the Board of Com
merce In favor of the franchise. With
the statement of the boards officers
that the money OF the members was
not being used In the campaign, IL
seems 10 be up TO these same gentle
men to explain just whose money was
used. The committee OF which | have
the honor and pleasure OF being chair
man had less than $500 at It's com
mand for the necessary expenses OF
the entire campaign, and that amount
was voluntary contributions from IN
dividual citizens President Milton
A. McRae, of the Board OF Commerce.
could not swallow the fraudulent
methods used by the franchise pro-
moters and absolutely withdrew from
all public recognition and support or
II during the final week.
ITO my mind, the polling hgures OF
Tuesday, place a more decisive quletus
on all ID. U. X. propositions than even
the defeat OF the Codd-Hutchins iran
chise which was beaten two TO one, be-
cause the vote on the Thompson-Hally
franchise was divided in manner
and for reasons that did not enter
into the previous election.
THE very first step TO be taken
now is to revise the charter so that
the city will have legal authority TO
own and operate its traction lines.
said Mr.. McVicar. The common coun-
Gil and Mayor Thompson should lose
no time In working for fiat three
cent fare, the kind of A three-cent
fare that means Just what IL says, the
certainty OF citizen being able to
proffer three pennies for street car
ride without running immediate
danger of being thrown of into the
street; transfers to destinations; good
service and decent cars. the adoption
OF the routing agreed upon by the
common council. the city engineer and
the ID. u r. engineer; no franchises
on any terms: full pay for all physical
property OF the ID. L. Il. when the city
is ready to take over the street rail-
way.
The city charter revision should be
undertaken without delay. The chance
is here now for Mayor Thompson TO
make good his assertion that he is for
the best interests of the people The
mayor should bend every energy dur
ing the remainder of his term TO work
ing with the common council to Sc
cure the peoples rights and the re-
turn OF their own streets
Mr.. McVicar. IL he accedes TO the
advice OF friends, will take complete
rest for the present, as his health and
strength, robust and vigorous as he is,
have had a severe strain, and although
happy contentment In the result OF
the fight, is proving an elixir. Mr.. NC
Vicar is feeling the effects OF the
strenuous work he has done.
why, can't take a rest" he de-
clared as cheerily as his broken voice
permitted. II have my private busi-
ness to attend TO now"
Great Joy and great gloom prevailed
in municipal circles, Wednesday morn
ing, following the defeat OF the fran
chise and the corporation counsers
suite, while In the department Of pub
lie works and the city clerks office
there we're smiles and congratulations.
1t was nearly noon when Mayor
Thompson put in an appearance.
1T didn't feaze me a particle" de-
clared his honor in reply to friend
who had dropped in to express his re-
gret.
Further than that, the mayor said
he had nothing to add TO the state
ment previously given to the public.
He declined to comment on the resolu-
tions introduced by Aid. Vernon in the
council, Tuesday night. calling on the
corporation counsel's office to get
busy.
The resolutions put II squarely up
to the corporation counsel and the
judiciary committee OF the common
council to produce some results in
the way of forcing better service and
making the ID. u. r. come forward
with the back rent it owes the city.
One of them calls for three-cent fares
on those lines on which the franchises
have expired.
Aid. Sherman Littlefeld, chairman
Of the judiciary committee. will call
meeting for some time next week 70
discuss all the resolutions, and will
ask Corporation Counsel Lawson TO
be present
Aid. Gilman. OF the Eighteenth
ward. was too busy receiving the con-
gratulations OF his constituents, We'd
nesday morning. to get down TO the
city hall
II thought was right in standing
out for municipal ownership and now
I am convinced that | was right. he
said Tuesday night This vote shows,
If IL shows anything at all, that fran
chises are out OF date In this city
and that the people are ready for
municipal ownership just as soon as
the machinery can be provided.
think we should lose no time In get
| ting started"
II Is not expected that any notice OF