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

CContinusd iron, Page one.)
passed by the common council to
force better car service.
Attorney Bernard +. Wesdock.
Thursday morning, presented TO Aid.
sherman Littleheld. acting mayor
in the absence OF Mayor Marx, who
Is in Washington, lengthy COM
niunication objecting 10 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 II is "un-
reasonable" and will tend 10 make
worse traffic conditions in the down
town district
Aid. Littleheld, in accepting the
letter. which IL addressed 10 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
tlefeld.
The cubic air space ordinance.
which was amended by Corporation
Counsel Harry j Dingeman and in
troduced by Aid. James Vernon, Is q
health measure limiting the number
of passengers 10 be carried inside
street cars, except where half-min.
ute service Is given. The measure
Is drastic, and the corporation coun-
sci declares It can be rigidly en-
forced In the recorders court.
The n. L RS letter to the mayor
follows:
"Sir:
Through the pubic press We are
advised that an ordinance entitled
An ordinance 10 preserve the pub
lic health and 10 limit the number
OF passengers carried at one time In
closed street cars in the city of De-
troit.' passed the honorable COM
mon council last evening, and Is
now subject TO 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
It's pendency in the council. nor
were we given an opportunity TO
furnish facts which would convince
any reasonable man OF the great In
justice that would be done the car
rider by its enforcement.
AT the present time we have
every car in operation that this COM
Iany owns. We have lately increas-
ed our equipment and have now on
order a great number of cars. At
present our traffic officials are taxed
10 the utmost TO carry the people
under present conditions. The new
ordinance would not lessen the task.
but greatly increase II. Many times
upon ali 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
dinance would be required to stand
On the street until such time as
additional cars could carry them.
The people of Detroit now consume
too much time. owing TO physical
conditions and street delays. riding
TO and from work, than should be
necessary. Our best effort is direct
ed toward shortening their ride rath.
er than prolonging IT, The skip-stop
was inaugurated with this In mind.
The new ordinance. II enforced,
now consumed by passengers.
Another serious objection Is that
on certain tracks cars OF more than
one line operate. The ordinance re-
quires that a service OF oue-half
minute be given on each line. Con-
sequently. as is the case upon Mich
igan, Woodward, Gratiot and other
streets, II a halfminute service Is
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 traffc 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
every seven seconds.
The additional cars required by this
ordinance would greatly increase the
blockade and decrease the opportu'
nifty cf placing cars upon their lines
at the time when most needed.
This company Is endeavoring 10
do all within its power 20 care for
the traffc. 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 is not In seeking to compel ad.
dltionaI cars. but rather IN the con-
struction of new lines and rerout-
ing OF the present lines. Legisia-
ton OF the character OF this ordi-
rance IL detrimental and positively
injurious 10 the city and It's people. |
n Is not workable and In devoid or