The Detroit times., 1914-01-21
HOLD SECRET
CONFERENCE ON
PHONE MATTERS
Lodge. Lawson and Hemans Get
Together in Mayors Office,
But Bar Reporters
REFUSE TO SAYIF
EXPERT is PICKED
Railway Commissioner Declares
for the Wisconsin Public
Utilities Scheme

In the language OF the police re-
porter mot OF this newspaper, .ow.
eVer) mystery shrouds" the action Of
the city's telephone subcommittee =.
TWO OF its rs-Corpo=ation
counsel Lawson aad Aid. Lodge met
Chairman Lawton T Hemans. OF the
state railroad commission, Wednesday
morning, and after half hour OF dis
cussion, announced that whatever had
been accomplished would be koIt Sc
cret. Arguments 10 the effect that the
people of Detroit are highly interested
in whatever developments take place
IN the telephone situation were met
with wise mods.
The fact that the mayor Is still ia
New York. and that IL would be dis
courteous to tell the public anything
without his sanction, was one excuse
offered by Aid Lodge for his policy OF
silence. Another was that the public
utilities committee OF the common
council. which will meet Friday morn.
ing, Is the body to which the sub-com-
mittee is responsible, rather than u
the people OF Detroit.
Have you picke,l an expert who
will be recommended 10 the public
utilities committee" Aid Lodge was
asked.
I'D rather not say" he replied
why bring Mr.. Hemans here, II no
expert has been accepted"
The invitation to Mr.. Hemans was
given before we knew that the mayor
would not be here" was the answer.
Then the only thing you care t.
have the public know Is that the meet
ing was perfectly satisfactory"
THAT is ALL
The newspaper men, who managed
TO break through roe conspiracy OF 81
lence when Mr.. Femans was here
about two weeks ago. prepared to work
the same game, Wednesday. They
sat with MIR Hemans and Mr.. lawson.
awaiting Aid. Lodges arrival, and
were prepared 10 resist an invitation
to get out.
When Aid Lodge appeared. he with
drew with Mr. lawson to the inner
room off the mayors Office. while ths
newspaper men continued to talk with
Mr.. Hemans. After about Ave min
utes, Secretary Fitzgerald came TO ne
door OF the inner Office and said:
"Mr Hemans, II YOU please" and Mr'
Hemans had gone in. closed the door,
smiling broadly 1T the reporters
While waiting for Aid. Lodge, Mr.
Hemans expressed himself az favor
Ing the Wisconsin public utilities
scheme, by which utility may sur
render it's franchise, limited to
number OF years, for working agree
ment by which IL continues 10 do bus.
mess until such time as the municipal
lty may care 10 purchase IT, Mean.
while. It's rates are subject TO control
by the state public utilities commits
sion
This is the only fair way" said
Mr.. Hemans "tf corporation is
given n 30-year franchise IL realizes
that Il must recoup from the public
I'm that period. II does not know what
may happen TO II when Its franchise
expires Its position Is precarious.
Such situation is bad for the public
and bad for the company"
Mr. Hemans also said that the ten
dency OF rates charged by public util-
ity companies. is downward.
Inventions. improvements In or
ganization.l and many other factors
tend to lower costs constantly he
declared For that reason. rates
have been going down.
Then how about telephone rates?'
he was asked.
1T is true also of telephone rates
he said. II know that ] am paying
less for my telephone than did q
few years ago. Look up your own
rates of several years back. and | be
lieve you will find that they are now
lower than they we're then.
/, DO you mean lower in comparison
with the amount OF service given?"
asked the surprised reporters.
no, mean lover In money charge.
without regard 10 the amount OF ser.
vice." said Mr.. Hemans.
And just then he was summoned
into the secret conference,