The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-08
Protests Against Endangering
City's Advantage Over Pri-
vate Owners Are Filed at
Public Hearing
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
SUPPORTERS CONDEMN
Attorneys Lucking and Frazer
Defend Mayors Plan-MayOr
Himself is Silent

The Detroit Federation of Labor,
with It's $4,000 votes, has gone on
record as unalterably opposed to the
Marx railway ordinance or any other
settlement plan, except municipal
ownership.
At the second public hearing on
the ordinance. held in the common
council chamber, Monday night,
Henry Kummerfeld, president of the
federation. informed the mayor and
the members Of the committee of the
iirn stand that the laboring men had
taken against the ordinance,
Remember you are the servants
Of the people and the people have
voted for municipal ownership he
said. 1--WE hope you won't meddle
with the bi kquestion by attempting
10 have this ordinance accepted. We
hope you gentlemen will report il
out adversely For Gods sake don't
sdetrack the main issue"
The 200 or more persons present
in the chamber. vigorously applauded
Mr.. Kummerfeld's announcement and
also the remarks OF Frank Martell, a
member OF the federation. who told
the aldermen that a ten-cent fare
was preferable to any sacrifice that
might endanger the ultimate reallZa-
tion of municipal ownership.
The second public hearing, like the
first held in the mayors office, a
week ago Monday morning, resulted
in a broadside attack from the ar
dent municipal ownership advocates.
The d. UR. officials were not pres
-AanAsFA letter from General Man.
ager Frank w. Brooks explained
that they were too busy TO attend.
but would be glad to be present al
subsequent hearings.
Attorneys Alfred Lacking and AL
Ian Frazer, who drafted the ordi-
nance for the mayor, again took up
the burden OF its defense. Mayor
Marx was at the meeting. but did not
take part In the discussion. So far.
the mayor has not raised his voice
in behalf OF his ordinance at the
public hearings, preferring to, allow
the men who framed the measure to
do the talking. Aid Eddie" Bar
nett attempted to get Mayor Marx
IN his feet. Monday night. but Allan
Frazed. the mayors $4,000 special
counsel, answered the call
Horace c. Williams. John Nc
Vicar. George William Moors. Justice
Edward ]. Jeffries and other OF the
old guard Of the municipal owner
ship committee continued their at
tack on the ordinance, denouncing II
as a measure opposed to and endan-
sering municipal ownership.
Justice Jeffries emplored the muni-
cd
steady in the boat" and not snap
at the mayors bait. The justice an
nounced himself in favor OF con-
structive policy, favoring competing
lines. and opposed to the ordinance.
The municipal ownership advocates
expressed divergent views as to the
best method Of bringing the ID. U. K
70 time. but the members were unani-
nous in their opposition to the meas
ure as proposed by the mayor. John
McVicar, opposed to the ordinance,
declared that a competing line, such
as Justice Jeffries advocated. would
be impractical. Mr. McVicar also
crossed wires with Mr.. Moore on the
question of purchase.
Horace G.. Williams insisted that
new rights would be granted TO the
d. U. r.. and that the ordinance was
good for nothing except TO provide
new litigation. Mr.. McVicar reiter-
ated his scheme for increasing the
rental on the trunk lines from 5000 TO
$4,000 a day. forcing the company TO
pay or become a trespasser through
out the city.
Aid. John G. Lodge, member OF the
council committee on franchises, at
tempted to bring about an orderly
discussion of the ordinance win
everybody Grating briefly. and in turn
lie asked Mr.. Lucking- who assisted
In drafting the ordinance. TO reply
to Mr.. Williams and Mr.. McNicar
Mr.. Lucking read a prepared argu-
ment. but digressed from the line OF
his argument many times to answer
rointed questions or supplement
statements made in defense OF the
ordinance.
The attorney declared that II would
be criminal neglect not TO take ad-
vantage of the city's victories at this
time; that the city Is now in posi-
tion to dictate reasonable terms; that
there is no practical. way to NUM-
cipal ownership which is from one TO
10 years away that the ordinance
provides a way without binding the
city or forfeiting a single right for
longer than one day; that the con-
struction Of new system of parallel
lines would be foolish and waste
OF the taxpayers money; that no
workable law exists TO condemn the
street railway lines.
III we can't build and can't con-
demn, then we only have the method
Of purchase" said Mr.. Lucking. But
how are YOU gong to buy from a com.
pany that wants at least 500. 1000. .000
for what your estimate shows 10 be
worth only SlO,000.00O.
This ordinance provides a way,
When the COMPANY onces agrees 10