The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-25

Mayor MARKS much-talke0-0f street
car ordinance, which went to the COM
mon council. Tuesday evening. makes
demands upon the d. U. r. for need
ed extensions, three-cents fares on all
lines, revocation Of all existing fran
chises, payment of back taxes and
clause enabling the city to purchase
at Its will. upon price to be fixed
by the circuit court, II necessary. the
property owned by the railway CON-
pany. In return the company is re-
lieved from the future payment Of
rental on streets where franchises
have expired, and the city agrees not
to enforce the Fort-st. rental decree,
which gives the council the power to
Dust the company from the street,
this condition to exist as long as the
company continues to operate under
the mayors day-to-day agreement
plan. Should the d. U. r. turn down
the ordinance, the mayor will ask
the council to enforce the Forrest
rental decree against the company.
The purchase clause, which Is one
Of the principal features Of the ordi-
nance. provides for the purchase by
the city at It's option all the prop
erty and equipment of the company
for fair and reasonable price. In
case the D. U. r. refuses to sell on
demand. the ordinance provides that
the sale may be specifically enforced
In the Wayne circuit court, the court
10 establish the price and enforce the
transfer Of the property. The court
may, at its discretion, order a jury to
assist and advise the court In arriv-
Ing at a determination Of the ques-
lions OF fact.
Before the city shall exercise It's
option to buy, the ordinance provides
Tor q referendum to the people as to
he plan Of purchase. The ordinance
Toes not bar the city from taking con.
proceedings to acquire the
or to take other steps lead
ng to municipal ownership.
The ordinance, which has been
weeks In preparation, was framed at
he suggestion of the mayor by Allan
II. Frazer, his special counsel, who
was assisted by Alfred Lucking
Doesn't Claim Measure Perfect.
The mayor makes no claim that the
ordinance is perfect, and he Is d.
pending upon the public hearings
which will be held In the executive
,fice by the franchise committee. be-
ginning next week, to show up any
that will need remedy
ng before the measure Is adopted by
he council for submission to the D.
y. r.
1T has been my desire and the de-
fire OF the gentlemen who assisted
ne, to obtain, as far as possible,
municipal ownership. what
he people are entitled to In extern
'ions. reduced fares and adequate SER
,ice," sad the mayor.
I'm the preparation Of the ordinance
extreme care has been taken to guard
against the use Of language that
night grant new lease Of life to the
Detroit United railway, or In any way
impede the city's progress towards
ownership In presenting
his ordinance, II 10 not my intention
hat the Tight to acquire the street
'ailway system shall be abandoned.
On the contrary, I am firmly con-
yinced that a just rate Of fare. extern
lions necessary for the welfare OF
he city and adequate service will
,ever be obtained until tho city owns
md operates the system.
Instead OF retarding the progress
" municipal ownership. believe the
ordinance. containing the well-drawn
option clause, will hasten the day
when the city will be possessor OF the
street railway property. and It will
be my aim and resolve TO continue
he fight which the city has been wag-
ing for a score OF years"
In addition TO the above statement,
which the mayor included In his mes
sage accompanying the ordinance TO
he council. he detailed at length
lis views on the various provisions
II the ordinance on the success OF
which he has decided to stake his po-
litical future.
Resembles Lawson Measure.
The mayor In his message adj