The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-12-04

tracks now owned by the u. O. H.,
bat for the operation Oi which they
have NO franchises Most OF the
important lines m the city come IN
der this classification The latter
alternative seems now 10 be- the
most popular Win the council.
If such action is taken. member
Of The council hold 90 would be easy
10 organize a company 10 operate
cars over the tracks nov In the
streets and 10 render good service
~ even lower rate than The one
Just repudiattd by tho railway con-.
pany
In his communication MAYOR Marx
plainly shows that be- rs NcEcd with
the company for the suddenness OF
It's action. bur ne rs not blinded. ne
SAYS, 10 the fact that impulsiye &C
ton might lead 10 still further re-
prisals on the part OF tho railway
Therefore he counsels calm action
and the financing OF the street rail
way commission az the only part the
council can play in the matter for
the present.
The message Of Mayor Marx 70
the council follows
To the Honorable. the Common Coun-
Gil
Gentlemen:
For such action as your honorable
body may deem advisable. 7 am FOR
Warding herewith a communication
from the Detroit United Railway. de-
llvered ct my office Saturday. Dec.
pany's announcement that on Dee ?.
1917, n would abrosste the so-cslled
Aux. Z agreement and increase It's
rate OF fare from seven for "a quarter
20 five cents straight
As one Of those responsible for the
agreement. which the figures ~
President Brooks. % the street rail
way company, reveal has saved the
csr-riders of Detroit more than t5,-
900 600 during tho four years that n
has been I'm effect. J. think need not
emphasize my regret ana diHpleRsure
at the COmpany'H sudden action
had hoped that before the people Of
this city were inflicted with a higher
fare. a thoro and business Ike, in
vestigAtion by competent engineers
might have been conducted How
ever. the company was unwilling 20
postpone action and We must meet N o
problem resulting therefrom a. -
faces us.
For my part. 7 do not believe that
advised action which may only ag
gravate the situation from the pub
lic viewpoint. II is rather time
for the exercise - common sense and
serious confederation of all the
,IrcumstEnccs iu connection with the
@ mpany determination 20 exact in
creased revenue from its passenger.
Viewing tho situation calmly and
without pre- iudtcr. We cannot ana
must not expect tho Detroit United
RAILWAY cr RnH Other public service
corporation tp render service Al q
loss No honest citizen ~ Detroit
Dr any other city demands this The
company har insisted that Increased
operating costs. together wifi ~ ~
INK or IN passengers of $50, 90" 2 de- d..
make w lmpoSsl bic tn meet its-Cur-
rent expenses az the old rate uf fare
Whether this contention BE- true or
not. can only he shown by = careful
hallway hooks One thing ~ certain.
however. the service given by the
company FOR months past has been
shRmefully inadequate for the city 3
requirements
As view it. the problem before as
il this
pany provide adequate service FOR
the people ~ this city
In my Judgment the way 90 deter
milne this IN sane. buriness- like
manner. Is as proposed bv the board
OF street railway commission rE--the
employment OF competent experts to
make thoro examination Of the
compsnys books n the inquiry
are correct. = am sure the people Of
Detroit will ask az ~ only what IS
fair IT, or the other hand. IL is prov
on that the company ls receiving
more than ID ~ entitled 90. we can
thcu force So 10 reasonable terms