The Detroit times., 1913-03-24
ClTY'S BATTLE WITH
ID. u. r. is NEARLY OVER
(Co.si. uesI from Pax. One,


the- street railway problem fail. we
may be compelled to deal harshly with
tho company have In mind issuing
u proclamation requesting the people
OF Detroit to tender three-cent fare
only, on lines where the franchise
rfBhfS have expired II this proclama-
tfon 10 Issued. the police department
OF the city OF Detroit will back up our
people for the finish
Your Montreal stockholders ana
bo0dholders, WHO. you say. believe the
city has harassed the Detroit United
railway and wishes to deal with II un-
reasonably. are in error. No city has
ever been more patient in its dealings
with q public service corporation that
has mistreated 1t. than the city OF De-
trudt. The people have demanded from
tho company only that which Is just
and fair. and they have been met with
arrogant objections. with threats OF
litigation, and with stubborn refusals
to grant concessions. For 90 years
the city and the company have been
engaged In struggle. That struggle.
l believe, 10 soon to end, when the
city will operate It's street railway
system with service, and not profits,
In mind.
Instead OF trying to placate our
people by building extensions. grant
Ing reduced fares. heating It's cars
properly and respecting our laws and
ordinances, the company has ignored
the city In all these things. IL has re-
fused to pay Its just apportionment or
taxes, II has refused to pay the rental
imposed upon II for the use OF our
streets where franchises have expired.
Where absolutely beaten in the courts,
II has appealed only to secure delay
and with the hope of exhausting the
patience OF our people into granting
1t franchise.
THE day Of franchises In Detroit Is
past. The people OF Detroit are de-
termined that they will not obtain
adequate extensions and reasonable
fare until the company IL ordered from
our streets.
'The people OF Detroit are not spine
less. Detroit intends to free itself
from franchise slavery. and to point
the way, for not only American cities.
but other cities of the world as well
by furnishing Its people with street
stacle that the Detroit United railway
places In our path only makes the day
Of municipal ownership more certain.
Aid. Otto Reinhardt, chairman of
the council committee on franchises,
said Monday morning that he would
await instructions from Mayor Marx
before calling n meeting Of his COM
mittee to consider the proposed Law
son ordinance to which the mayor Is
opposed. The attitude Of the chair
man OF the most important council
committees In regard to street car
matters, and OF other council mem
bers as well, clearly indicates that
the council as body Is In favor or
giving the mayor a free hand liz
handling all street car matters.
Supt. Harry Bullen, OF the d. U. r.,
appeared before the council commit
tee on ordinances. Monday morning,
when Aid. Hess proposed ordinance
to provide gongs on the rear plat
forms OF street cars to warn people
Of the approach Of cars In the OPP
posite direction, was taken up for dis
cussion. The superintendent said that
the company was at the present time
doing all In its power to lessen the
number OF street car accidents and
he did not think that the alderman's
suggestion would be OF practical worth
In preventing accidents. Aid. Barnett
wanted the ordinance recommended
to the council for adoption, but the
majority Of the committee decided to
take the matter under Amusement.
The famous PennimenBarnett or
dinance which proposed TO keep pas
sengers off street cars under certain
conditions was repudiated by Aid.
Barnett In the meeting and sent back
TO It's parent, Assistant Corporation
Counsel Thomas Penniman.
The proposed ordinance limits the
number of passengers to be carried
In street cars In proportion to the
number OF cubic feet of air space.
City Health Officer Kiefer was pres
ent in the meeting.
What do you think about the ordi-
nance, 'doc?'" asked Barnett.
Kiefer smiled and replied: well,
1t Is a pretty difficult matter to han
die. 1t is hard to get just what Is
needed to rectify conditions"
AL right then" said Barnett. Il
guess I'll hand the ordinance back to
its parent, Tom Penniman.'