The Detroit times., 1913-07-30
President of Board of Com
merce, Offered Place Some
Time Ago, Finally Agrees
10 Accept
COMMISSION PLANS no
ORGANIZE WEDNESDAY,
Will Immediately Proceed to Ne
gOtiate for Purchase of the
ID. l.. X. Lines

James Couzens, secretary and
treasurer of the Ford Motor Co.. and
president OF the Detroit Board OF
Commerce, Will be the third man on
Mayor Marks municipal street rail-
way commission. He will serve with
John f. Dodge and William ID. Ma
hon, the two commissioners already
selected.
Mayor Marx announced the selec-
ton of Mr.. Couzens Tuesday noon.
after conversation with him over
the telephone The commissionership
was offered TO Mr. Couzens some
time ago, but IL was not until Tues
day that he was able to inform the
mayor that he would be pleased 10
serve.
The names OF the three commits
sioners were sent to the common
council Tuesday night.
The mayor also sent communica-
ton TO the council congratulating the
people OF Detroit on the appointment
OF the first street railway commission,
calling attention to the progress that
has been made during the past few
months towards municipal ownership
and thanking the aldermen for their
unwavering support of the mayor In
the street car fight TO date.
81 think | have picked the best
railway commission possible, said
the mayor. Each member is thor
oughly competent TO handle this big
proposition, and ] am positive that
all three men are staunch municipal
ownership advocates. | am very
glad that Mr.. Couzens. who Is very
busy and very prosperous business
man, has agreed TO serve as mem
Der OF Detroit's first street railway
commission. A better man for the
work Of municipalizing the street
railway system could not be found.
We all know that Mr.. Mahon is a
man OF unquestioned integrity, a
leader of men and student OF street
railway affairs gained through his
long experience In street railway
labor matters. Mr. Dodge is sue
cessful manufacturer, man OF great
mechanical ability, and he has only
recently returned from trip abroad
which he made for the purpose OF
studying municipal ownership, es-
peciaily In England where the muni-
cipal ownership OF street railway sys-
TENS Is very far advanced.
Personally I am more than pleas
ed to get the matter OF appointing a
competent street railway commits
sion off my mind u has been diff
hcult task getting three men or cali
Der to serve on the first commission
My enemies have tried to block me In
nv effort TO secure the best men in
the city for the commission, but !
proud TO say that no better trio OF
men could be found in any city in
the United States for the purpose for
which I have appointed them.
II have realized from the first that
much OF the success Of municipal own
ership in Detroit depended on the
competency OF the first commission.
] am satisfied that these men will
make municipal ownership sue
cess"
The commissioners will likely meet,
Wednesday, to organize.
The board will elect a president and
secretary. The commission. under the
charter amendment, will have full
power to appoint general manager
and to employ inspectors. accountants,
etc. II is the duty OF the commission
to proceed promptly to purchase, ac-
quire or construct, and, of course. OPP
crate a system of street railways in
Detroit.
Until the yerder law is sustained
by the supreme court the commission
will be without funds TO go ahead and
purchase, acquire or construct rail
way system. but II will be able TO
formulate it's plans and perfect all ar