The Detroit times., 1913-06-07
Charter Board FrOwns on
Scheme to Have Street Rail
way Commission Make
Terms With COmapny
BIG BATTLE TO GUST
EIKHOFF POSTPONED
Will Take Place Next Week
When Ferris Returns From
Honeymoon

No action was taken TO unseat Hen
ry j. Eikhon. in Friday mornings ses-
sion OF the charter commission. Mr.
Ekhoff tried TO make his position
tirmer by engaging actively in the dis
cussion oil pending business, aud by
proposing two or three measures. all
Of which were promptly voted down
The determination Of the progress
siye members to GUST MIR. Eikhoff has
not weakened. however. They are
waiting for the return of Commits
siOner Ferris, who is on his honey
moon. but who will probably resume
his seat Monday
was adopted, Friday. The feature OF
the session was the attempt of Com.
missioner Burton, the John Paul Jones
OF the commission. who, when his
propositions are riddled and wrecked,
still clings to them and declares that
he has not yet begun to fight. TO give
the street railway commission power
to negotiate settlement with the
d. L. r.
Mr.. Burton wanted final action on
the municipal ownership chapter post.
poEed until Saturday, announcing that
he wanted 10 talk at length In favor
OF his proposal.
go ahead now" said Mr.. Ingram.
1t was nearly noon. but Mr.. Burton
went ahead for a half hour. explain.
ing the difficulties which he foresees
in the way of municipal ownership.
He explained that The Committee
OF so" of the Breitmeyer regime and
the common council were never able
TO negotiate successfully with the d.
L. r. because they have been unable
TO decide on policy satisfactory to
the entire membership. body OF
three, like the street railway commits
sion. would be able to agree. he be-
lieved, and would be able TO secure a
settlement satisfactory TO the people.
We want expedition Mr.. Burton
declared. We want no more delay.
Some OF us have grown gray-headed in
this fight for some sort of settle
ment"
He said that the inclusion of the
two per cent street railway bonding
proposition would make a threefifths
vote necessary for the adoption Of the
charter: that even II the charter IS
adopted. It will take q year TO get a
proper valuation Of the ID. u. r.: that
IT Is doubtful If personal property can
be condemned SO that the city may
nave difficulty in getting possession CT
the ID. L. RS cars, while il will have
to pay the damages which the con-
domination OF the real property causes
70 the personal.
He doubted II the city can condemn
the three-cent lines. inasmuch as the
city would use them for the same
purpose to which the D. e. r. ia now
devoting them, using the inability of
the Michigan Central TO condemn
Grand Trunk tracks as an analogy.
he said that he did not consider the
fort-st. case great victory for the
city, inasmuch as the d. U. r. had
never been ordered 10 vacate the
street.
The ID. y. r. probably realized
that IL must get out II the city made
the demand. but the city couldn't de-
mand 1t because 1t had no line TO
JAKE the place of the Fort-st. line"
he declared.
He held that under the three.cent
franchise. the city must offer 10 the
ID. U. r.. the chance to build desired
es, before II can undertake to build
tnem itself. When he had finished
Mr.. Wesch, who had been held in
cneck by Mr.. Ingram with extreme
dimcuity. cried out that Mr.. Burton
must DE connected with the D. T. r.
and Mr.. Burton. amid general laugh.