The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-01
MARX PLAN ASSAILED in
FIRST PUBLIC HEARING AS
FRANCHISE PURE NDSIMPLE

time Dy the common couhCii' ~ :"
allow the D.. ". Il. to occupy the
streets whore their franchises have ex'
PRED, even though we have q supreme
court decree which says the company
Is a trespasser In Fort-st.. goodness
knows what rights the ID. U. X. may
acquire In those streets.
II do not care at this time 10 dis-
cuss the ordinance generally, but !
will II you gentlemen 30 desire
"Wil you say at this time whether
this ordinance will open the way for
new litigation?" asked Edward Greece.
II should say no." replied Mr.. Luck
Ing. The ordinance says that the
Fort-st. rental decree shall be sus-
pended while this ordinance is in eff
feet. The ordinance can be revoked
at any time and the common council
can then order the company from the
streets under the terms OF the de-
cree"
Mr.. Greece interrupted Mr.. Lucking
to ask II the council could summarily
order the ID. IT, Il. from the streets
where the company Is paying $500 a
day rental. Mr.. Lucking replied that
the council would have to first recind
It's agreement with the company In
tina Fort-st. case the city did not have
al agreement with the ID. U. r., the
company refusing TO pay any rental.
This ordinance will not stop
municipal ownership for a minute,
said Mr. Lucking. Mr.. Greco again
attempted TO interrupt him. but Chair
man Reinhardt raped for order
Continuing. Mr.. Lucking contended
that the ordinance did not give the
company any new rights in the
streets and did not interfere with the
municipal ownership plan any more
than a resolution from the council to
the company would.
IF the common council raised the
rental on the other lines from $500
TO $1,000 a day and the ID. U. r. re-
fused TO pay, would the company
then be a trespasser?" asked Mr.. Nc
Vicar.
YES" replied Mr.. Lucking.
Mr.. Greece then declared that the
ordinance would give the ID. u. r. all
the grounds necessary for years or
litigation. He went on TO say that
the city never got any concession
from the ID. u. r., adding that he
once sue dthe company for a fve-cent
fare and was defeated in the circuit
court.
I'VE have got a right to be sus-
picious OF this ordinance" said Mr..
Greco. THE people have voted for
municipal ownership and why does
Mayor Marx attempt to interfere with
conditions as they are at the pres
ent time when We seem TO be gain
ing the upper hand Of the company,
without the use of any ordinances or
agreements with the company"
What In the ordinances stops mu-
nicipal ownership" asked Allan Frag-
err the mayors special counsel.
The ordinance as whole gives the
ID. u. II. rights that the company does
not possess at the present time" an
swered Mr., Greece. j Further, it is not
intended to help municipal ownership
along. We don't need the ordinance
say to the mayor and his advisers,
mind your own business and leave
municipal ownership alone The peo-
pie have voted for it and we will win
out in the near future"
Chairman Reinhardt tried to short
en- the attacks on the ordinance and
Aid Edward Barnett rallied to Rein
hardt's support.
These men are not the only Simon
pure municipal ownership people in
come in here and dictate to this com
mittee. My ward gave municipal
ownership the largest vote of any
ward in the city, and my constituents
can rest assured that l will heed
their demands"
Mr.. Frazer then asked Mr. Williams
bow he would amend the ordinance
to safeguard the city's rights.
Il don't think 1t could be DONE" re-
piled Williams, whereat the mayor
and his legal advisers smiled broadly
Charter Commissioner &. NJ Bur-
ton. who is opposed to municipal own
ership, dropped into the executive Of
flee and suggested that clause be
included in the ordinance compelling
the ID. U. r. to give up its tracks in
stead of the franchises they still hold
Then you would have no trouble
putting the company off the streets
when you got ready to-" said he.
In answer to Mr.. SGrece's question
as to what the ID. u. r. bondholders
nance, Mr.. Lucking admitted that
they would probably have a great deal
TO say
You understand that the d. U. X.
has to accept the ordinance before
any OF its features become operative"
he said II am quite sure that the
company will kick very hard on some
of the demands. But We can take up
those matters as we come to them.
have very much more TO say on this
ordinance and will have statements
to make In future meetings"
Aid. Harry Dingeman suggested
that the purchase clause could be
amended so as to read ''all or any
part of the system"
Certainly" agreed Mr.. Lucking,
who did most of the talking in de-
Tense of the ordinance. IL think the
suggestion is good one and hope
that the committee will take IL up
when the proper time comes. The ID.
U. r. will likely object to having any
portion Of It's ystem 'scrapped" and
we will have to iron out these mat.
tiers In future meetings when the ID.
u. r. officials are present"
Before the hearing opened, f. Z.
Gilbert and DR.. G.. r. Treanor rep
resenting the United West Side asso-
citation. consisting of six civic i'm
provement organizations, presented
Mayor Marx with a genuine Irish shil.
lalah with the wish that he use II 10