The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-09
BLOW WILL Be AIMED At
JOY RIDING N AUTOS \
BELONGING TO CITY
Accountant Bullock Working
Out Scheme To Keep Tab
On Use of Machines
CITY OWNS ABOUT FIFTY
Municipal Garage Would Effect
Big Saving in Mantle
nance Charges

stringent regulations are proposed.
relative to the use of automobile.
owned and maintained by the CITY for
the convenience OF city oficials and
employees. That certain officials have
been using the machines for their
own enjoyment and benefit IA com
mented on about the city hall. city
Accountant Bullock stated. Wedoes-
day afternoon. that he IL working ON
plan to put an absolute check olt
the use OF the machines. He proposes
that their use be limited to the city'a
work and would have the ofIicIals and
employees using them make reports
In detail every day, showing how
many miles they operated the ma
chine and how many trips were made.
The city's machines are being used
every day In the week by city en-
ployes, just as they would use their
own machines, said a city ofEicial 10
The Times. Expensive touring cars
are maintained by the city and much
OF that expense results from the driv-
ing OF the machines at night and
when not on the cfty's business. An
employe of the department of public
works can be seen almost every after
noon, driving his family and friends
around town in one Of the city's tour
ing cars
There are no regulations at present
governing the use OF the machines.
They are bought for certain ofiicialB
and turned over to them TO use prac-
tically as they may desire, and lump
sums are appropriated each year for
maintenance in garages. Deputy Con-
troller Palmer made a practical step
toward establishing a municipal gar
age some weeks ago, when he obtain
ed information from all the city de-
partments as to the number OF ma
chimes and the expense for mainte-
nance.
There are about so runabout and
Touring cars belonging TO the city
outside the fire department, and the
leverage cost OF maintenance is about
$375 annually for each machine, or q
total of approximately S1S.750. Ger
tain automobiles owned by the fire
department could be included In the
number or machines 20 be cared Tor
lin the municipal garage. Palmer has
\ figured II out carefully to show that
the city would save considerable
money. and the plan viii probably
be soon adopted. Another advantage.
lcredited to a municipal garage, Is thar
II would afford better means or chack-
Ting the use OF the city's machines. In
Milwaukee and other cities those using
THE city machines are required to
\ make detailed reports for each trip,
the mileage, the time and the pur-
Ipose.
The park department has FIVE auto
\ mobiles and six motorcycles, Com
missioner Hurlbut, having the use OF
| a Packard touring car. Health or
ficer Kiefer has the use OF $2,4OO
electric coupe. There are eight au-
tomobiles owned by the city and used
In the department Of public works
Commissioner Haarer and G. A. Proc
tor, superintendent OF the asphalt
plant, each have handsome touring
cars. There are also four machines
lowned by employees OF the department.
who use them frequently for city
work, but who receive from the city
all the expense OF the maintenance.
Supt. Martindale, OF the public schools,
lhas a roadster for his own use; Su.
pervisor Stewart has a touring car
and there is one other runabout for
use by school officials. Four automo-
biles are owned by the public light
ing commission. The city pays the
maintenance for one other machine,
owned, by the chief lineman. Nine
motorcycles are in use.
The police department has IL auto
mobiles, costing s44.l62.10. There are
seven Packards, one 0ldsmobile, three
Chalmers and one power wagon. Sew
enteen cars are in use in the fire de-
partment. The restrictions proposed
by Bullock would apply only to cars
in the police and fire departments.
used by individuals, not the patrols
and fire apparatus.
The building commission owns one
motorcycle and the maintenance OF
one machine, owned by an employs
OF the department. Is paid by the
city.