The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-09
Let the People
Rule-and Write

TO sAe Editor Of TIE TSMes:
In IN editorial. Friday, you state
what II logically "the nrst duty oi
the street railway commission" now
that its attempted decker with the
ID. u. r has gone to the scrap heap
where much Of the stun IL wanted
to buy from the d. u. r. should be
already. VIZ: ITO prevent the issn'
ance OF any more bonds based on
the properties o. the -. u. r."
II strikes me It has higher and
prior duty to the citizens OF Detroit
to obey the law (charter) and fol
low the line Of procedure pointed
out by the United States Xxx
| court. The commL- tall three
members. as ] understand. were
unanimous) showed utter waste OF
thousands Of dollars In procuring
the Remis appraisal. which II ap
parently never used. Then there
are other thousands the commission
spent for q trafYic survey. which
may or may not be Of use. as the
commissions business ability de
velops. Then there are other thou
sands 10 be paid for the useless and
futile efforts Of Messrs. Lucking and
lawson, hired in the same manner
rs the ID. u. r. was permitted tC
build the Junction-ave. belt. or such
portion OF 1t as II has seen fit tC
build to date. instead OF having II
completed In 1918. as any compe
tent contractor could have complet
ed II, and at less cost.
| Would 1t not be businesslike now
to engage q genuine. practical stree,
railway engineering expert to looh
over the entire situation with . view
to the city proceeding to municipal
ownership and operation forthwith;
getting at the actual value Of the
ties. rails and overhead equipment
In FOREST. then paying for the worl
the city has been stuck for on the
Junction-ave. belt and finishing the
line by contract after open compe
tition, the city furnishing the rails
ties and overhead equipment. TO b.
put In place by the contractor un
der the city experts supervision?
Then offer the d. u. r. 10 to n
per cent more than full Appraisal
value Of its ties. rails and overhead
equipment In FOREST. and II the ID
U. r.. declines to sell at such offer
ed price. let II remove same from
the street and restore the street a.
to foundation and pavement, undel
direction and supervision of the ID
p. W., say one or two blocks. o.
1000 feet at time.
Get some such competent exper
street railway man or A. b. Du
pont. who was Tom L. Johnson,
right-hand man In Detroit, and wht
knows our needs as few others do
II the d. U. r. doesn't soon tire o
taking up and making junk OF wha
II can get a liberal price for. I shall
surely miss my guess.
Let our street railway commits
sioners redeem themselves by doini
something for the city even II lott
OF d. u. r. stun Ii junked, and stoI
all dickering with the private cor
poration that haS ruled US. spat upoi
up, fouted our every request, ant
heaped contumely upon us for hal
a century, during all which time &
was or should have been MAXIM
money. or at least was taking II on
of Detroiters.
Don't attempt to see how muci
OF It the d. U. II. can be coaxed
bullied or forced into putting int
operation" as you suggest In regar,
to the $4,000 traffic survey. Don
dicker with the d. u. r. at all
Track work cannot now be properl,
done ut the edge of our winter sea
son, and before II can be properl.
done there will be no necessity o
dickering with the ID. U. r.. as thu
franchises on all streets needed vii
have expired before coming winter
frost Is out Of the ground. and tn
city can do It's own changes necef
sary for relieving congestion. Al
that IL needed Il an honest, earnest
businesslike and energetic push b,
the street railway commission AM
the city administration.
Yours for municipal ownership
that Il sure to pay from the start
| TIMES ADMIRER.
Detroit, Nov. s. 1915.
Dpsaeress With Times Editorial.
To the Editor of The Times:
| Your editorial In regard TO tn
Associated Charities In Saturday
paper, 10 very unfair. A man o
your experience ought to know tina
a very large proportion Of thos
who seek relief are frauds and tina
all generous people need to use tn
greatest precautions to Illustrate tn
designs Of professional paupers q
well ~ to carefully avoid tn
danger Of pauperislng the homes
poor.
Your editorial savors Of sent
mental gush that Injuries the caus
Of true benevolence. Your conclr
nons are very superficial. II care