The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-15

Ohc hiulc, lueTeDy ODNldlluB the cosby
I and obnoxious destruction OF pave
ments whenever one or the other de-
cides on conduit construction"
Marx says the collection OF garbage
Is a difficult problem and ADVOCATES
the use or motor trucks TO haul gar
bage from "A station on the east side
10 the central station on the west
side. This proposal was first made
by Commissioner Haarer, who is ask
ing the council for an appropriation
for the machines.
Slams Park Department.
Referring to the park department
the mayor says
We are annually expanding more
than 100000 on our park system. De-
troits should be second TO none. II
is my opinion, however. that there is
room for improvement and greater
economy in this department. and dur
ing the coming year | hope for bet.
terinS OF the entire system without
the expenditure of additional funds"
Referring to the police, fire. water,
and lighting department, he says:
Service In these branches OF the
city government during the past few
years has been of high quality. |
hope for continuance OF this service
during the coming two years"
Marx advocates the employment OF
technical men where they are needed
In the city's business. More play
grounds are also recommended. He
makes the positive assertion that "the
early issue OF bonds for the erection
of a suitable municipal hospital is
advisable"
: Liberal as TO Junkets.
He adopts a rather liberal policr
with respect TO junkets, termed, lin.
specticn tours by city officials," and
the junket, recently fallen into dis.
favor, may be revived during his ad.
ministration on the score that ne
favors It, He says:
Hundreds OF dollars contributed by
the taxpayers for the maintenance OF
the city government, have to my
mind, been wasted in past years, in
indiscriminate junketing by city off,
Gals. 1t Is a narrow view that would
prohibit all tours OF inspection OF this
Kind. or my personal knowledge,
know that benefits may accrue from
a study of methods in vogue In other
cities and we should assist and en-
courage the department head who
seeks to introduce innovations for the
betterment of the service. But costly
and needless excursions. looked on
largely as outings, should be prohib-
ited."
Thompson's Exaugural
In his exaugural message Mayor
Thompson spoke at length concerning
the plan he advocated for settling the
street car problem and enumerated
! what he termed the advantages OF
| the plan. His attitude on this score
| was in line with his sentiments ak
pressed in the lest we forget" let
tiers. He says:
Until municipal ownership comes
as An actuality, the city must suffer
as It now suffers, unless some belatec
change In public opinion recurs to The
settlement already proposed, or one
similar to IL, and finds virtue In the
formula that was once rejected.
Municipal ownership cannot come
in day. The machinery to product
II Ia still months away from it's max
Ing. The form in which II shall b
offered is problematical. When II Il
accepted, 1t will have TO be organ
lied, to find its footing. to prove III
lawfulness, to acquire Its properties
aud then-in whatever time these
things shall be accomplished-to be
gin to provide the relief which Nigh
have commenced last March.
I'm the recital of these contrastet
conditions, | believe our fellow ciu
zens will read the responsibility OF
the political leaders and the political
ly-operated newspapers who led the
people to believe that II they were
| given their way they would have
new and better solution tomorrow.
Already year OF tomorrows have
become yesterdays, and the end ID no
nearer now than then.
He emphasizes the importance OF
conserving the cltys financial credit,
He speaks OF the water department
having undergone regeneration dur
ing his administration and having be-
come committed TO a policy OF extern
sion and improvement which Will es-
tablish It on q high plane OF efficiency.
He devotes considerable discussion 70
the proposed charter revision and
cautions the revisers not to act TOO
hastily or without careful considera-
ton lest the city lose some Of the
the present charter.
Praises Mcdonnell and Croul.
He praises the work Of John l.,
Mcdonnell, the retiring superintendent
of the Detroit House OF Correction
and also that OF Police Commission
or Croul. Regarding Croul he says:
while not my own appointee, the
special appreciation OF the outgoing
administration Is due for the services
OF one other public official. refer
to Frank H. Croul, police commission
err of the city OF Detroit. Mr.. Croul S
period OF public Office was co-incident
with the tremendous growth OF the
city. with new demands for police
service, with the introduction OF new
elements OF danger. both human and
material. and with the necessity or
undermining the machinery of the de-
partment to the end that II would best
serve the demands of the present. To
saw that the commissioner has done
them well Is but to voice the common
| sense of all the citizens. To add To
that. the further statement that ne
has been responsive TO every pubic
duty and every form OF service sug-
qested by the administration of the
city is but the simplest Justice from
the head Of that administration
In conclusion he speaks OF public
AFFAIRS being left IN excellent condl-
ton for the incoming administration
"The city OF Detroit was never in
/ Amor condition materially or financial