The Detroit times., 1915-12-16
ASKS MAYOR
TO VETO CAR
ORDINANCE
tcortinued from Page oaeJ


Thursday morning. presented TO Aid.
Sherman Littleheld. acting mayor
In the absence OF Mayor Marx, who
10 in Washington, a lengthy com
munication objecting To the cubic
air space ordinance, which was
amended and made workable by the
council last Tuesday night. The
company asks that the measure be
vetoed on the ground that il is 'un-
REASONABLE" and will tend 10 make
worse traiiic conditions In the down
town district
Aid. Iittlefeld. in accepting the
letter. which is addressed TO Mayor
Marx. said he would take no action
pending the return OF the mayor.
II could not very we'll veto a mea-
sure that | voted for" said Aid. Lit
tlefield
The cubic air space ordinance.
which was amended by Corporation
Counsel Harry J. Dingeman and in
troduced by Aid James Vernon. is a
health measure limiting the number
OF messengers 10 he carried inside
street cars. except where half-min-
ute service is given. The measure
Is drastic. and the corporation coun-
sci declares IL can he rigidly en-
forced in the recorders court
The n. [. RS letter to the mayor
follows:
"Sir:
Through the pubnc press We are
advised that an ordinance entitled
IAN ordinance 10 preserve the pub
l:c health and TO limit the number
of passengers carried az one time in
closed street cars In the city OF Dc
troit." passed the honorable com
mon council last evening. and Is
now subject 10 your approval or
veto
The notice in the press consti'
tutes our only knowledge that the
ordinance was adopted We were
not advised Of the measure during
is pendency in the council. nor
we're VIC given an opportunity 70
furnish facts which would convince
any reasonable man OF the great In
Justice that would be done the car
rider hy It's enforcement.
~ the present time we have
every car in operation that this com.
rany owns We have lately increas-
ed our equipment and have now on
order a great number of cars. Al
present our traffic officials are taxed
20 the utmost to carry the people
under present conditions. The new
ordinance would not lessen the task.
but greatly increase II. Many times
upon all lines we are compelled TO
: handle upwards OF 5000 men at one
point. Street delays are more num-
erous now. and, consequently, fire.
quency OF cars irregular. Persons
beyond the limit described In the or
dipance would be required 10 stand
on the street until such time as
additional cars could carry them.
The people Of Detroit now consume
TOO much time. owing 10 physical
conditions and street delays. riding
TO and fro mwork. than should be
necessary our best effort Is direct
ed toward shortening their ride rath-
or than prolonglng II. The skip.stop
was inaugurated with this in MIND.
The new ordinance. II enforced.
would more than double the time
now consumed by passengers.
Another serious objection Is that
A, a.. - N
one line operate. The ordinance re-
Guires that service OF one-half
minute be given on each line. Con
sequently. as is the case upon Mich
igan. Woodward. Gratiot and other
streets. IL half-minute service rs
required Of each line, the string Of
cars unable to get across Woodward
ave. would be doubly increased. in
creasing the ever-present danger
from heavy traffic without rendering
more efficient service or quicker
transportation to our patrons, but
having a tendency only TO lengthen
their waiting period TO board the
cars. At the present time we are
operating cars In such frequency
that a car passes over the diamond
AT the corner OF Woodward and
Michigan-aves. every seven seconds
The additional cars required by this
ordinance would greatly increase the
blockade and decrease the opportu.
nifty OF placing cars upon their lines
At the time when most needed.
This company is endeavoring TO
do all within it's power 10 care for
the traflc. We appreciate. as you
must. that the arrangement OF
tracks in the vicinity OF the city
hall and possibly the rerouting OF
some lines, Is absolutely necessary
TO render adequate service RELIEF
for the congestion about the city
hall il not In seeking to compel ad.
dltional cars, but rather i'm the con-
struction Of new lines and rerout-
ing OF tho present lines. I,egisla-
ton OF the character o fthis ordi-
rance is detrimental and positively
injurious 10 hte city and its people.
n Is not workable and Is devoid OF
the spirit of cooperation that Is es-
sential 10 the solution OF the prob
lem Of rapid transit in this city.
we respectfully ask your honor