The Detroit times., 1915-10-12
], A. Bell FavOrs Real
Nj. O., But Not
Pig-in-POke
DECLARES NEWS
is INSINCERE
Trying to Put Over
Victory For Mayor,
He Insists
20 the Editor OF The Times;

70 the Editor OF The Times:
There is no doubt that the street
railway commissioners are Intensely
In earnest. and have faith in their
nlsn 10 purchase the Detroit United
lines within the city limits. They
are sincere In their belief that the
plan is a good one and will carry
at the coming election, but neither
they. nor the people, will know what
price we will have to pay for the
property until the transaction is
signed, sealed and delivered. This
is not exactly good business. even
II the fixing OF the price Is left TO
the circuit judges after the bargain
Is closed. and cannot see why the
arrangement had to be submitted
TO the people in its present form.
have no fears for the outcome
OF a municipality owned street car
system II IL is taken over In rig
idly conservative way ard placed in
the hands OF responsible comm.c
sion like the present one, with fun
assurance that IL can never be made
a tool for political graftcrs,
am convinced that the Detroit
News is not sincere in It's screech
ing advocacy OF the purchase plar
I believe II is doing the commits
sion's cause more harm than good
II looks TO me a. II its sole ain
is to secure at least one victory TO-
the present administration. whicr
II has supported ever since It's m
ception, and which carries with II
little progress and the highest taV
rate in the history OF Detroit. The
News prints a long list OF names OF
splendid business men and calls at
tention TO their reputation, trying
TO link them with the purchase plan
in the hope that the ignorant voter
will lump II OF a. a pretty good
thing To be sure. these business
men are all right. but they are only
units in this large city and their
vote is no more powerful than that
OF the wise cottage owner
Then. again. the News Is trying
TO make Us believe that this cam
paign is for the purpose of securing
municipal ownership OF the street
railway. again appealing to the un.
thinking voter. I thought that is
sue had been fought out several
years ago and had won by rs per
cent majority. Am | rlght--or is
the News 10 years behind the
times
As ! understand II. the present
campaign. and the coming election.
were instituted for the purpose OF
determining the mode by which We
are to acquire the lines already In
the streets and privately owned
whether we are TO pay the ID. u. r.
for Its physical system and for Its
wateFed stocks, and pay It's mort
cages and give It bonus for Its
trouble. or whether we shall order
II to vacate the streets having al
ready on hand the power. voted by
the people some years ago. and sus-
tanned by the supreme court, TO own
and operate our own street railway.
/ think the plan now before the
people should be soundly rebuked
on Nov. 2.
Why does not the News propose
that the city, having money to burn.
get busy and build all the extern
sions that are needed. rent them to
the ID. Q. r.. the same as the city
rented woodward-aye, Fori.st-, JEFF
ferson-ave. and other streets. until
In . few years more the d. u. Il.
will be completely down and out.
with no franchise TO stand upon.
when the city can get the present
system ut its own price, and when
the d. u. r. will have no time Ia
take bonus or put over watered