The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-28
FRAMING OF CHARTER
PLANS TO BE HURRIED

effect which means that municipal
Ownership and other important char
ter amendments can be submitted III
the spring election, April I.
State Senator James Hanley called
on the mayor. Friday morning. and
assured him that the bill stood an
excellent chance In the house.
! The mayor. accompanied by the
members of the council committee on
city and charter legislation and the
members OF the water board. viii 20
TO Lansing, Monday morning. pre-
pared to do desperate all-day lobby
Ing In behalf OF The Dilf.
The adoption OF the Verdier bill
lwotild kill the Lawson elbows bill,
which is now in committee. Corpora
ton Counsel Lawson said he would
not go TO Lansing, Monday. The
mayor did not answer when asked II
he would invite the corporation coun-
sci 10 accompany the Detroit delega-
ton. but there is no chance OF such
an invitation being extended.
IF the bill is passed and given I'M
mediate effect as am sure II viii be,
the people OF Detroit will be asked
in the spring election If they favor
municipal ownership OF the street
railways said Mayor Marx. The
machinery for municipal ownership
will then be set IL motion but
the mayor did not go on 10 explain
his plan, II he has one.
Shortly before noon the mayor
,made preparations for hasty trip
out of town.
1t Is another one OF those "r,ys-
terry trips" said the mayor. smiilnS.
HE refused to say where he was going,
but he admitted that IL was on city
business
Before he left the Office Mayor Marx
intimated that he would soon nave Il
very important statement 10 give out.
II am waiting for telephone can
now" he explained. AS soon as get
the call | win give out the statement:
After the mayor left the ONCE his
secretary Edward Fitzgerald. explain
ed that the statement, which mac 10
do with the proposed municipal own
ership amendment. would not be gwen
out. the mayor having decided 10 wait
until after the meeting OF the council
committee on city and charter legis-
lation, Saturday morning, before r'ak-
ing public any plans he might nave.
he mayor 10 eApeCNeo JAIN Ss'su-u e'
night.
Water Commissioner John Gillespie
called at the city hall before 3 O'CLOCK,
Friday morning, 10 confer with the
| MAYOR on the eVrdier bill. The COM
mission pledged the support Of the
! water board in the fight for the bill
before the house committee.
we need immediate action said
the commissioner. Unless we can
get a half million dollars very soo1
we will have TO increase the water
| rates so per cent, which the mayor
does not want US to do. l am in
| formed that the city is unable TO
make the board a temporary loan.
! The only way We could raise the
money and not disturb the present
water rates, would be TO float loans
| at q big expense or cancel contracts
for an immense amount OF work.
The board is now $l,5o0,O00 In
debt, and needs 100000 more for
extraordinary improvements. II must
be remembered that the board has
an earning capacity OF 100000 a
lyear. The earnings will be increased
to three-quarters of a million in an
other year. We could retire $4,000, 900
worth of bonds in five or six years
and present the city with property
, valued at s20.000.600. The improve
ments under way are for greater De
troit. and will take care OF the city
| for years TO come