The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-27
Committee Plans to
Give Permission in
Mondays Meeting
MOORE ATTACKS
CAR LINE SCHEME
Says Blank Price Fea.
ture is Violation of
the Law

| Inspector Condor is likely TO be
over-ridden, If he attempts to post
pone consideration of the use OF the
schools for. debates On the street
railway settlement, when the teach
ers committee OF the school board
meets in special session. Monday
! afternoon.
Chairman Mumford aud Inspect
ors Hely, Morgan and Auch, con
shutting a majority OF the commit
tee, say that they are In favor OF
| allowing the use Of the schools fol-
| debates Further. Chairman Mum
ford and Inspector Hely say that II
the board has given the committee
| power 10 act, IL can act in a spe
cial meeting with as much author
| ity as In regular meeting, and
! there is no sense in waiting for the
regular meeting, Oct. 10. before do
Gliding the question.
inspector Condor isn't running
this board" was Inspector Hely' &
terse retort to Mr.. Condon's point
EFF the committee feels like TAX
ing up the matter. 1t will be taken
up" said Mr. Mumford.
Mr.. Morgan said that he is in
favor of allowing tho use OF the
schools for debates. but he is not
we'll enough acquainted with the
rules OF the board to say whether
the committee can act, Monday. OF
must wait until Oct. 10.
The rules Of the board are silent
on the question. They say that a
special meeting OF the board itself
cannot take up anything not men
toned in the call, but they do not
limit the powers OF committees in
special session.
I've need not be guided by law.
yer's quibble.' Chairman Mumford
insists.
Inspector Condor says that he IL
not opposed TO the use OF the school
buildings for public meetings. bu,
be wants the matter taken up In
the regular way Inspector Mum
ford says that he does not feel that
the schools ought TO be opened for
political meetings OF all kinds. but
he feels that debates on the street
car question are not political meet
ings, in the ordinary sense.
Our city officials" says George
William Moore. have submitted 10
the people a proposition TO vote on
street railway purchase plan with
the price left blank. the price to be
/ fixed by suit in equity to be
! brought by the street railway com
/ missioners against the d. u. X. Tn
der the proposed plan the people are
10 have no voice whatever In deter.
mining the price they must pay. The
constitution OF Michigan, Art. VIII.
par. %, provides:
Nor shall any city or village &C.
quire any public utility or grant any
public utility franchise-which is
not subject to revocation at the will
Of the city or village-unless such
| proposition shall have first received
the affirmative vote OF three-fifths OF
the electors of such city or village
voting thereon
THE language such proposition
when applied to franchises means
that the whole franchise shall be
submitted, not that the people shall
SOte to approve franchise before
II Is drawn And In regard to q
purchase the language such propo
sition' means that the entire con
tract OF purchase shall be submitted
not contract with the price left
blank. The proposed plan also VIC
iates two provisions OF the home
rule act 4. Sec. Sc (Act 1909 ex
prcssly provides that all contracts
OF purchase shall be submitted ia
the people, Sec. Al (as amended In
1879 provides that municipalities
may make contracts to purchase
upon such terms. Including terms
Of present or deferred payments as
the municipality may deem proper
brit says no contract shall bind the
municipality unless the proposition
therefor shall receive the Affirmative
vote of three-fifths of the electors
voting thereon
THE intention was to have the
people vote on completed contrac,
showing the property, conditions and
price.
| The very essence of the con.
tract IN the price.
1T would be absurd to suppose
that the lawmakers intended the
people TO pass merely on the form
of the contract without knowing the
amount they must pay.
"The right TO vote on the con.
tract was given so that the people
might protect themselves against
eXorbitant prices"
/