The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-10
BANCROFT TALKS OF SCAN
DALS OF BEAUTY BOARD


fed by an opinion Of the corporation
counsel's Office that IL has no power
to spend money. but that its bills
must be allowed by the common coun-
Gil.
obviously, the only course open TO
those who insist that Mr. Bennett
should be paid for something which
the commission has no proof that IL
has received, and for which the com.
mission has never contracted with Mr.
Bennett. is 10 cajole the council into
allowing Mr. BENEFITS bills.
The City Plan a. Improvement
commission is the largest board in
Detroit, and il has done the least
work, and Is the most unbusinesslike
body in the public service. have
made an attempt TO put its operations
on business basis. | have insisted
that records be kept and contracts
made. Yet It's records and its stenog-
raphic reports cannot be found in its
office in the city hall. and few OF its
members are aware of the proceedings
which have come before H.
II have shielded the commission and
its methods in the part, but il IS time
that some OF it's acts were exposed.
IL was in 1910 that the commission
bought about 500 worth OF shrubs
and sold them 10 public school chill
dren and distributed them TO factories.
The commission had no authority 10
make such a purchase Soon af'er the
plants were distributed, the mayors
Office was deluged with complaints
that the shrubs were no good. that
they were dead, that only a small pro
portion had grown. What might have
developed into public scandal was
hushed up. 10 protect the board from
ridicule and blame.
One Of the duties OF the commits
sion is to take hold OF Detroit's freight
problems, which is causing a loss of
hundreds of thousands, even millions
OF dollars, TO the city. The commits
sion has been granted $4,000. out II
has not taken one step TO investigate
the freight situation or TO remedy il
This is work which the commission
ought 10 do. 70 justify it's existence.
IL is important work. and hard work.
But not thing has been done.
Il believe that there are patriotic
citizens in Detroit who expect 10 live
IN this city for many years, and who
are anxious for It's future. | believe
hat these citizens are willing 20 work
or Detroit's future, without compensa.
ion other than the satisfaction which
viii accrue to them through their ac-
iviry FOR the city's good And be-
iece that these citizens are far sbler
o deal with Detroits problems than
some dilletante called in from outside.
Anyone who is familiar with the wild
made by these pro-
essional beautifiers knows that the
,ity's resources should never be
wasted on them
The distribution OF shrubs, TO ghich
dr. Bancroft referred, took place in
he summer of 1910 A voucher for
202.30 was approved by the council,
Inly l9, 1910, for the deficit caused by
he failure of the commission TO re-
CUP the entire cost. The shrubs were
from Pontiac nursery.
Another bill OF the commission
which caused considerable discussion,
lnd was finally allowed, was that of
$50 for luncheon and services" on
Oct. 10, 1911 The bill was listed un-
Ter the commission account Of "Sten-
ographers work, postage, stationery,
report, etc" 1t was decided
that the word etc might be stretch
ed 10 cover the luncheon