The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-07-04
Declares Mayors Betrayal Of
Trust Worse Than Thompson's
Because it Came When
. Victory Was Won
WOULD FIRE ID. l.. X. FROM
NO-FRANCHISE STREETS
Tells How Aggressive Tracti0z
Policy Won Victory For Peo-
pie of Rome

Chagrin and the deepest disappoint-
ment over the present street railway
situation in Detroit, are the senti-
ments expressed by John Mcvicar.
staunch municipal ownership advo-
cate. who has just returned from
spending year in Europe. where he
made a study Of the traction systems
of various English and continental
cities. The feature OF the local sit.
uation about which he spoke most bit-
terly TO The Times, Saturday, is as he
termed Il. the detection Of Mayor
Marx from the cause OF municipal
ownership"
III a man like the late Gov. Pin.
gree or Ernesto Nathan, former
mayor Of Rome, were mayor of De-
troit." he declared. we would now
be operating our own street railway
lines The failure OF Mayor Marx TO
follow up the advantage given him
by the decision OF the supreme court
In tAe -Eart-st--case- and the -expres-
sion Of the voters on municipal own
ership Is an outrage that angers me
clear down to the soles OF my feet.
His betrayal of the peoples trust
was worse than that OF former Mayor
Thompson, because II came when vic
tory was already won and all that
was necessary 20 secure the fruits OF
the victory TO the city was little
independent, aggressive action on the
part of its chief executive
IL there had only been an earnest
purpose back OF Mayor Marks part
ing words to me year ago, when he
predicted that | would see publicly
owned cars running here on my re-
turn, surely he could not have done
$50 badly The only reasonable ek-
plPnation OF his conduct is o lament
able weakness OF character on his
part
Now they are planning to pay s46,-
600 for a new appraisal by Prof. +.
w Bemis II seems that the street
railway board is going ito fiddle away
the Sl00 900 allowed 20 make a start
In the acquiring of lines. and be no
better of than IL was in the first
place Why don't they take the Bar
croft appraisal. which was fair and
just? When the supreme court gave
its decision in the Fortst. case. out.
side OF some court expenses, perhaps,
not one single dime OF necessary ex-
.pense stood in the way OF immediate
action
When ! explained the Forrest sit
uation TO Signor Nathan. he grasped
It's meaning at once why. what Is
the matter with your mayor?' he said.
why didn't he order the company off
the street at once?'
Because ! answered taking the
other side of the argument, we had
no way TO take care OF the traffic.
Mr.. McVicar.' he rejoined. you
cannot make war without hurting
someone Even though the people had
10 walk for time Il would be better
50 TN the long run n would onlv
nave been FOR a few days anyway, for
when me company saw the offcial&
really We're in earnest i;&would hSve
been ready 20 come 10 terms
The -. L. II, should be fired of
the streets on which its franchises
nave run out on Fort-st, for in
stance, il should be ordered to 90 ont
10 the end OF the line and tear ND the
last 300 feet Then n should be made
10 restore the foundation and pave
meni of the street before touching
another foot That would cost sew
.eral thousand dollars mile. The
company would be ready 20 accept
reasonable offer before u had torn up
three oo0-foot sections Of track"
As he talked. Mr. NcVicar illustrat-
90 MS points by references 20 exam.
pies and practices i'm Europe Or
casionally he digressed from his
theme 20 relate some incident OF his
travels or tell OF the peculiarities of
the countries he visited bur never
Tor long az 2 time He soon came
/ back 10 the topic of greatest interest
10 him ana 'hen his manner OF speech
again became tense and emphatic
when Eruesto Nathan beceN
mayor of Rome" he said "the citL
.7ens there were paving fares OF from
four 20 eight cents Most OF tha
franchises OF The street car lines ran
10 1920 and some Of them Longer. The
case seemed hopeless he kent Ming.
E.ng away though. opening np a line
wherever possible
Since left Rome they have s.a..
Cd their nth municipal line and arc
doing al the business they can tal-e
care ~ on f.. 7 am told. Their nrof.
It's from a two-cent fare have been
sstonShingly large. They nav their
employees the same scale OF wages as
The privately owned lines do. In a..
dillon. the men ret a bonus by tbe
division OF the surplus between the
city and the employees Of the svsten,
This gives the latter about 90 per
cent more on their wages.
| The city engineer. who has iuris-
dictlon over both the city and private
street railway lines. IS. paid aImosf
the equivalent of s. 600.
What Hre voH geine 20 do when
the present franchises run outr I
asked him.
We viii take over the lines for
tContiuued On PREe Foar.l