The Detroit times., 1913-03-12
CITY OWNERSHIP
PLAN APPROVED
BY The COUNCIL
Amendment Accepted and Will
Lie on Table Is Days,
as Law Provides
ALLAN FRAZER NAMED
AS SPECIAL COUNSEL
Will Advise Mayor on Street
Railway Matters; $4,000
to Meet Expense

After being altered In committee at
the suggestion of George William
Moore and Peter Witt, the Cleveland
railway expert, who was interviewed
by Edward Fitzgerald, Mayor Marx 8
secretary, the municipal ownership
charter amendment was accepted by
the common council, Tuesday night,
and laid on the table for 10 days pre-
paratory to Its submission to the
people in the spring election, April Z.
AZ the amendment now stands, II
adopted, II authorizes the city to
bring about municipal ownership OF
the street railways, and also empow.
ers the city to issue bonds up to two
per cent OF the assessed valuation OF
the real and personal property In the
city. about $10.000.000. and other
bonds upon the property and revenues
i. OF the street railway system, includ.
Ing a security franchise.
The following Is the form in which
the municipal ownership question will
be submitted to the voters:
DO you favor authorizing the
city OF Detroit to acquire by pur-
chase or condemnation or con-
struction and to own and oper-
ate street railways within the city
of Detroit and within a distance
OF 10 miles from any portion OF
its limits and TO provide for the
OF the city OF Detroit to the
amount Of two per cent of the as
sessed valuation Of the real and
personal property of the city and
other bonds upon the property
and revenues OF the street rail-
way system, including q security
franchise?
Other charter amendments provid
ing for an increase In the genera
bonding limit OF the city from two tC
four per cent. civil service. and an in
crease In the bonding limit Of the wa
ter board from 81 500. 900 to $4,000, 900
were also accepted. ordered printed
and laid on the table for Is days tc
comply with a specific provision In
the Verdier home rule bill.
II was necessary for the council tc
take immediate action on the amend
ments as they are required to lie or
the table for Is days, and to be ad
vertised for seven days. allowing JUS
one day leeway in getting these i'm
portant propositions on the sprin.
ballot. The law gives the council thu
power to further amend or change
the proposed charter amendments be
fore they 90 on the ballots For this
reason Mayor Marx. Tuesday night
sent the name OF Allan II. Frazer tC
the council for confirmation as specia
counsel to assist the corporation coun
sci in examining the charter amend
ments and ironing out any legal en-
tanglements that may be found. The
council, at the request OF the mayor
appropriated $4,000 u employ special
feeHnsef for this purpose
Aid. Lodge announced to the coun'
Gil the mayors selection Of Mr.
Frazer. Mayor Marx was present In
the meeting, but took no part in the
connected with the railway question
went through the routine channels
without interruption.
In the committee meeting, Tuesday
afternoon, several changes were made
in the draft Of the municipal owner
ship amendment prepared by Corpora
ton Counsel Lawson. The changes
are intended to free the bill as much
as possible from all red tape and IL
make the plan more workable.
The street railway commissioner IL
to be appointed by the mayor and to
be removable by him at pleasure, but
the council has reserved for itself the
right to Ak the amount of cOmpensa
ton IN he Maid the commissioners
The commissioner Is vested with al
most absolute power in the acquisition
and conduct OF the municipal street
, railway system. He is authorized tc