The Detroit times., 1913-04-26
N
OUT JEFFERSON
CAUSES RUMPUS
Mayor Probes Protest Against
Saucer" Then Decides It's
Matter for Courts
PENNIMAN MINES
In LIVELY SQUABBLE
Threatens to Prosecute Builders
for Violation of Fire Linz
it's Ordinance

ASSlSlhut NOTpoldtlOn AOuuSel
Thomas Penniman made several
caustic references to politician" In
IA public hearing. In the mayor q
office, Friday morning, on a protest
made by the Hudson Motor Car Co.
against the erection Of motordrome
Jn the site OF the old driving park,
out Jefferson-ave The remarks of
Penniman were directed at John Gill
lespie. who will be the next police
commissioner, and several other
meeting.
Gillespie defended the motor
drome. on which the promoters have
already spent $4,000, and was in
clined TO question the sincerity OF
some Of the men present, who were
opposing the proposition.
1T strikes me as funny how out
oftown promoters know how to get
in touch with the leading politicians
Ito champion their cause, said Penn
imam, who came to the meeting Of
his own accord and told the mayor
that he intended to make a COM
~
drome Co. for building its saucer"
inside the fire limits.
1t strikes me as funny how the
corporation counseis office can in
terest itself in an automobile COM
pany's protest to the extent OF push
ing complaint for the concern.
when the mayors Office Is compelled
to hire outside counsel TO give legal
advice. In city matters, remarked
Gillespie after the conference.
The city department Of buildings
got In wrong again, as It developed
in the hearing that Chief Inspector
Dupont issued letter TO the pro-
moters, approving the plans and
specifications for the proposed mo-
tordrome without making proper
In the Friday morn
ing hearing Dupont tried to dodge
the blame by saying the motordrome
was not structure. Nobody
seemed to know what he meant by
the explanation
The fact that the assistant cor
poration counsel should voluntarily
appear in a meeting held in the
mayors office was commented upon.
When asked at whose request he was
appearing, Penniman intimated that
the Hudson Motor Car Co. was be-
hind the complaint, adding that he
considered it his professional priv
ilege" to withhold the particulars OF
the matter from the press.
NJ. F. Bramley, president. and c.
p Salem, manager Of the Detroit
Motordrome Co., said they thought
they had the proper authority TO
construct the motordrome when they
received the letter from the chief
building inspector. The motor
drome. when completed. Is to cost
$4,000 and the promoters planned
10 open IT May IA. II they are en-
joined from operating, they stand
to lose $4,000.
II have no personal interest In
this matter" said John Gillespie. the
mayors friend and adviser. Several
days ago the mayor spoke to me
about the matter. as he did to a
number of other people. and asked
my opinion. told him that I
thought a motordrome would be fine
advertising for Detroit. The Detroit
saucer would be on circuit with a
mum ber- OF other large cities. The
mayor invited me to attend the meet
ing and give my views.
@If the corporation counse's Office
wants to make complaints, there are
several places like Electric park and
others, where city ordinances are be-
ing violated all the time.
The Hudson Motor Car Co. was
represented by c. G.. Winningham
and r. B. Jackson. They said the
erection OF the motordrome near
their factory property would be a
nuisance and would injure the artis-
tic beauty Of their property.
Penniman will ask the city en-
gineer to make a survey OF the mo-
tordrome site to see II It is In the
Jefferson-ave. fire limits the cOrpor.
alton counsel having information
that such Is the case. Aid. Harry
Dingeman introduced a resolution In
the last council meeting to have the
entire district out Jefferson put
in the fire limits Dingeman ex-
planned that he introduced the reso-
luton to bring the motordrome con-
troversy to head.
IL 10 suggested by some that the
Connolly Campau political fued Is be-
hind Penniman's activity in the mat
ter. Campau owns the site on which
the motordrome Is being built. The
police have stopped work on the
Saucer" but Mayor Marx declares
he will not take part In the squab-
BILE, as IL Is a matter for the courts
to decide II the matter Is taken
to court and a decision Is given in
favor OF the Motordrome company
the mayor will grant the promoters
license to operate the motordrome
as an amusement place.