The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-10
WANTS M. 0. ON \
TELEPHONE, GAS
and HOSPITAL
Committee Would Enlarge List
of Enterprises in Which City
May Engage
EIKHOFF SQUABBLE
POSTPONED TO TUESDAY
PrOgressives Likely to Insist on
Ample Apology if They Drop
Custer Program

IL still rests with Henry j. Elhuou
whether he Will remain member o:
the charter commission. The commis-
sion held d very snort session. Mo.
day. nnding that II had nothing 10 con
slider, inasmuch as no proposal had
been Oh the table the requisite hN1
days MIR. Ahern' motion 10 have MI.
Eikhoffs seat declared vacant VAS not
brought up because Commissioners
Ferris. Wreford. Szymanski Burch
and Broadway were absent when the
roll was called. and neither MS
friends nor his opponents dared forcc
the issue without full meeting. Al
but Mr.. Burch came in after adjourn
ment when il was too late 10 DO any
thing.
MI Eikhoff is willing 10 make
statement OF some sort, but whether
the commission will be satisfied WITH
il is question. The progressive ma
jority is beginning TO feel its power,
and believes that popular sentiment IL
behind IL; consequently II is inclined
10 think that il can be strict To the
point of austerity in judging Mr. Elk
hon His fate will probably be de-
cloed tuesday morning.
The municipal ownership commit
tee took up the question OF telephones,
gas and a general hospital, and direct
ed Mr.. Ahern 10 prepare clause CIV
ing the city power 10 own and operate
these activities. Mr.. Burton held that
the city now has the power TO tx
rates for telephone and electric light
and power service. and advised the in
clusion in the charter Of a provision
giving the mayor power 70 make rates.
and the other members agreed with
him.
The telephone company makes It's
Detroit rates high enough 10 provide
money for IL TO carry on its fight
against independent companies In the
state" asserted Mr.. Ahern.
Just as the d. U. X. makes money
enough in Detroit TO finance Its inter
urbans," added Mr.. Ingram.
My idea" said Mr.. Burton, 10 10
leave the present telephone rates
alone. but to prevent any additions.
There are small ways, very annoying
ways, by which the company keeps
adding to the tax on its subscribers.
II neglects TO send bills, and then en-
forces a penalty for delay in payment,
for instance. | don't want q meter
system that would cost us Ave cents j
message. The service doesn't cost US
over one cent a message now"
One cent Is too high, said Mr..
Ahern, but it's the smallest coin we
have. A fve-cent charge would give
the company $l0.000,0O0 a year. or 81
per cent more than their plant cost
A municipal plant could give service
AT $3.50 month as the highest cost"
Mr.. Ahern explained that many de-
fects in service are due to the great
burden of extensions, placed on the
company, because of the rapid growth
Of the city.
The committee IL in favor of the
creation of department OF electricity.
the director of which would control
the public lighting system and the tel
ephone system, II one is voted bythe
people. The public lighting commit
tee. Of which Mr.. Ahern Is chairman,
will draft such report.
Mr. Ahern believed that power
should not only be given for the build
ing Of a municipal hospital, but that
provision be made for It's immediate
construction. The objection was rails
ed that too many bonds might be tied
up by such action, and that 1t would
be best to leave the building OF the
hospital to the discretion Of the com
mon council.
The finance committee, under its
new chairman, Mr. Guthard. met and
discussed the assessment and collec-
ton Of taxes with City Treasurer Koch
and Assessor Kohler, but gathered no
new light on solution Of the conflict
between the Offices. Mr.. Koch insists
that he ought to have more time to
prepare his bills; Mr.. Kohler, that
April is the only logical date for the
assessment OF property. which would
prevent Mr. Koch from getting the pc.
| Rod he requests. After an hours de-
bate, the committee was still without
practical plan.
Mr.. Keating's committee on water
board will hold public hearing,
Thursday afternoon at o'clock, In
the council chamber, to which several
former members OF the water commits.
sion have been invited, including ID.
ID. Thorpe. Joseph J. Crowley. F. j.
Clippert and E. w. Pendleton. The
entire common council has also been
asked to attend. The question OF the
collection Of the water rate by the
city treasurer, In connection with
other taxes. will be taken up. and II Is
likely that some reference will be
made to the problem OF the city 8
water supply-whether Lake st. Clair.
and filtration plant are TO be de-
penGed on. or whether the city should
contemplate going to Lake Huron for
water.
Commissioner Tossy is placed In a
sad predicament by the action OF the
Detroit Federation OF Labor In indoors
Ing the non partisan ballot. AS pol
iticlan. Mr. Tossy doesn't like the new
scheme: as labor representative. the
federation feels that he ought 10 vote
for Ii.
Il was Endorsed by the federation
before this question ever came up. A"
said Mr.. Tossy. Monday. Il agreed To
support the platform that was outlined
al that time. The platform OF the ma.
ticral organization OF carpenters.
which Is my union, SAYS nothing about