The Detroit times., 1915-10-12
THE STREET CAR FIGHT

that railway property ceases 10 he
a part OF railway. once the fran
chise rights have expired. A tie
becomes good for what wood is in
IL, rail- for it's value as scrap iron.
You are asked 10 pay the ID. U.
r. profit for It's investment on
me syregrs YOU have rented 70 Them.
II yon rent or lease a building, and
rei.r- Lease expires. do YOU 80 10 the
landlord and say, Here, I've got 10
get out now because my lease ex.
pires. It's tough on mt, and
want vow 20 pay for all the pronts
Nill lose N years 10 come and for
the property will have TO leave be-
hind me"
III YOU buy the system under
snch conditions, gentlemen. I say
there viii DC n price imitation. And.
with price based on franchises
that have expired and property that
is worthless when not part OF the
corporation which holds the fran
ch.ses. | cannot see how bonds can
he issued without violation OF the
law The state railway commits
sions authority Is a good thing
mean II is Just az good for cities as
II is for private concerns-"
Barcroft's remarks were met with
loud applause and j stamping of
feet. After this. he YVES frequently
interrupted by hand-clapping. He
was given vote OF thanks at tho
conclusion of the meeting.
Bancroft ridiculed statements
which hare appeared repeatedly in
the News, that the street railway
system VIII continue to run as
usual. probably on Jan. l. with the
profits flowing into the city Golfers.
IL the purchase plan carries.
This talk IL absurd he said
an Cleveland. with complete
agreement between tae city and the
street car company as TO the man
ner in which the transfer should
be effected. II required Ave months
TO make the change. How DO You
know that the executive employees
OF the n. u. R will continue as
CITY workers? These men are high
salaried and well treated They
world sooner work for a private
corporation than for the city. be-
cause the drst named pays more.
OF course, with the motorlnen and
conductors, IL is different. They
see much money. and they don't get
very much OF H."
Turning again to the important
subject of purchase price Bancroft
delivered some caustic comment on
the line OF reasoning or those who
say the city can afford to pay a
large price for the street car sys-
tenn, because II would pay more
than the system might be worth,
merely to get the street railway
bugaboo on its hands.
81 don't understand why you and
I and the other citizens OF Detroit
should dig down into our pockets
u6erelY for thesSake Of peace. when
Inc TS0I KHuuxLtpai o"hcio hAP heAsS
has been won and IL il only dues-
ton OF how we acquire control OF
the lines" he continued. you can't
make a commercial success on any
such silly sentiment As that, be-
cause your price foundation viii
not be sound. Sentiment? Is that
what it's called. I've got lot OF
old Junk I'd like 20 sell, too. and
II the city WIN buy it. Just to have
IL put ont of It's boundaries. I'd be
glad TO get rid Of II.
"If the city Is made to pay for
out-of-date and utterly worthless
property now owned by the d. U.
r., I want TO ask how II expects to
make profits ont OF the car system.
under such a handicap Why, We
would be paying for the purchase
OF worthless properly for the next
10 years, and we would be paying
in taxes and in fares"