The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-20
KEEP UP FIGHT FOR
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
(Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page OneD
|avor of municipal ownership by
(dopting the charter amendment.
When that is done, minor matters can
be ironed out. But frst and fore
host. we must get the municipal own
rship power. and finance the propo-
ition. Any attempt to distract the
Peoples attention from this main
Esue must be fought. The people
hust show their determination; their
|nemies will then see that they are
capable OF taking care Of their own
Interests"
Same Old Arguments.
By the d. U. X. to the United States
upreme court In its appeal Of the
'ort-st. rental case. which became
|ublic. Wednesday. The company
makes its old contention that since
holds a grant from the state, the
'ort-st. line Is a state line, and not
ader the city's jurisdiction. and that
. franchise In Springwells. the dis
riot since annexed TO the city. i'm
oses on II the obligation TO maintain
ervice until 1921 on the whole line.
ince service on that section would be
Impaired by an interruption at any
Their point OF the line.
The company claims that the de-
rec OF the state supreme court takes
way Its property without due pro-
ess OF law. and Is, therefore, vio-
alton of the federal constitution.
There Is nothing new In this,
aid Corporation Counsel Lawson.
These points have all been cited be-
pre-. The company overlooks the
ght vested In every city to controI
s own streets. Its arguments would
pply to private right-ofway, but
ot to a city's public thoroughfares."
Mr.. Lawson Is waiting Sor the ar
val of Alfred Lucking, who Is ex-
ected back from the east. Saturday.
Mr.. Lucking concurs, he Will AK
he supreme court to dismiss the writ
error granted to the ID. y. X. The
ty has 80 days in which to take &C
lon. II this step Is decided on. II is
elieved that the supreme court VIII
ear arguments within 90 days.
The d. U. RS appeal confused
Iany aldermen. The council. hitherto
lithely sure OF It's course. finds IL
Elf at a loss what to do. Mayor
lark insists that the city should go
head with the purchase OF motor
uses.
What's the use?" Aid. Heating
bked, when the subject was brought
D. They'll let US go ahead with the
rder and perhaps pay for the buses,
nd then enjoin us from using them
hen we'll have a lot OF useless buses
n our hands. We don't want to tie
a quarter Of a million dollars III
hat way. 1t seems TO me that the
nlv thing we can do is to wait. ana
ee what the supreme court decides.
City hall men do not look Win
hvor on any militant measures
gainst the D. U. r. They seem per
betty willing to let the fight drag
leHa In the courts
The mayor believes that the char
kr commission. by the time the buses
"a delivered, will have put into the
ew charter the power to operate a
IA line. and that II the fare is made
bw enough, the city will be able 10
ompete with the ID. U. X. Aid. keat-
he dAesn't think such scheme would
FORK.
'sWho would ride In q six-miles'an-
our bus when he could get a ~
niles-au-hour street carr" he asked.
When people are in q hurry, they II
nke the fastest way. We can't de-
end on their antagonism TO the y.
b. r. 90 long az the company oners
he best service"
N. o. Boost, Says Vernon.
Ala. James Vernon declares that the
hteet action of the d. U. H. In seek
n 10 prevent a friendly settlement
the street car problem, by APP
ealine the rort-st. rental case to the
unreme court, il the best boost IN
hs world for municipal ownership
fhe alderman says the company's &C.
lon will have no effect on the NUM-
ipal ownership plan other than 70
onvfnce the people OF the necessity
voting for the charter amendment
IA April T.
Altar once securing the right to
I'm ana operate q street car system,
Va. Vernon says It Will not be neces'
arv tor the city to waste time DICK
ring with the street Car coinpo"'
liz idea IL that the city can go ahead
nd build q competing system and In
hat way bring the company to time
"Then. when we get the authority
rom the court. sometime hence. to
brow the d. U. n. out OF the streets
he company will have left a mess Of
unk that nobody wants said the al
erman, Thursday morning.
ITO build q competing system IL IL
ct necessary for the city to parallel
be D. u. r. track. We can build
orth and south lines as well as east
nd west tines In territory where bet
er transportation facilities are badly
eeded. These lines can be built 90
hat II will be possible for people to
each the downtown business district
rom almost any portion Of the city
Even II II lie necessary to get down
bwn In 4 round about way. the peo
le can show their spirit and patrio
Ism BY spurning the D. U. X. lines
nd patronising the city's lines. The
U. 4. remember, 10 after the