The Detroit times., 1916-02-24
Refusal of Aldermen
to Sign Report Means
Long Delay
CITIZENS ARE
ALSO DIVIDED
Aid. Jakel Protests
Against Splitting
Street Car Traffic

neSday night. caused Aid James
Vernon to mold up the report OF the
committee recommending that tho
DETROIT United railway be instruct
ed to build the proposed extension
OF the Grand Belt line. following the
route agreed upon two years ago
Aid. Vernon was dumfounded
when. with one exception, ne mem
bers Of the committee refused 10
sign the repor- Ala. Godfrey Fret
waid was the exception. Aid.
Charles w Burton was not present
at the meeting Aid Jakel. Keat-
ing, Ashe and Zoeller declined 10
afiix their signatures. They made
no objection 10 the report, asking
merely that IL be held mp" This
probably means m indefinite delay
in the construction OF a needed ox-
tension.
There are two factions among
property owners in the northwestern
section OF the city. One fayors the
route agreed upon by the council
two years ago, while the other
wants the extension constructed in
McGraw-ave., Chopepi. and Wre-
ford-ave, in accordance with the
latest recommendation OF the rail
way commission. The public utili-
ties committee held two public meet
ings in an attempt TO get Va route
agreeable to majority OF the peo-
pie in the northwest section, but
after failing TO get the Improvement
associations together on route,
the committee decided TO act arbi.
trarily and select its own route.
The action OF the four committee
members, Wednesday night. will
likely reopen the question for fur
lher public discussion.
The council auinorlzed the cor
poration counsCls Office 10 agree to
decree. 10y the terms of which
Highland Park will pay Detroit
$500 600 for the use of the Morrell.
g. sewer. the city TO build the two.
mile connecting link for the village.
The matter is now i'm the supreme
court Highland Park will provide
an adequate sinking fund appropria.
tion TO retire $4,000 worth of the
bonds yearly in addition TO paying
the interest
4 communication from the com
missioner of public works suggest
ing that Il system OF fire protection
be established IN the city hall to
safeguard city records kept there.
was referred TO the committee on
public buildings.
Aid Vernon, by resolution, asked
the committee aud charter and city
legislation TO prepare charter
amendment for submission to the
voters 10 legaliZe four per cent
interest rate on paving assessments.
The present charter provision says
that seven per cent shall be
charged. The city treasurer has
been charging four per cent for 10
years. He bases his authority for
lowering the rate of interest on a
council resolution which reduces the
rate from seven TO four per cent.
The council has no right to amend
the charter by resolution or ordi.
nance. Aid. Vernon also wants all
assessments made payable on the
same date from year to year. Tn
der the present arrangement the
taxpayer is given l3 months I'm
which 10 pay the first assessment,
but the others must be paid at the
end of IL months. This results in
considerable confusion. many tax.
payers being unjustly charged
penalty and~ interest for being de
linQucnt.
After the council meeting. Wed.
nesday night, Bernard Weadock. at
torney for the D. u. r.. explained TO
the aldermen the proposed plan to
re-route car lines in the downtown
districts. as presented to the COM
mittee on public utilities.
Aid. John Jakel objected TO split.
ting the Fort line and compelling
passengers TO walk from Bates to
Griswold.st when transferring. lie
voiced the protests of many east
and west side merchants and manu-
facturcrs whose employees will DE
inconvenienced by the proposed re-
routing. Aid. Jakcl suggested that
the Fort east cars come down Mon
roe-ave. 10 Cadillac-sq instead OF
down Brush 10 Congress.st. and then
TO Bates. Mr.. Weadock agreed 10
go into the matter with the com
mittee. Thursday.
The report OF the ways and means
committee. recommending that $62..
$40 be appropriated to. replenish the
poor commission funds for pro-
visions and outdoor relief, was
adopted. At the request OF the com
mittee. the poor commission sub.
mitted an itemized financial state
ment on the condition of its funds,
and the figures were carefully aud
tied by the controller before the
committee framed it's report.