The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-12
DETROIT D Ill|0 ! I I!
1IfEE|IRA|LV'VAY
Al Scent FARE
Right Of Employees Taken
Away Under Municipal
Ownership, However

away UnueT Hiui'iC'po'
Ownership, However
DETROIT May 12.-Midnight
ZOE May Is sees crepe hung at the
doorS Of private traction monopoiy
Mayor James Couzens' dream OF
municipal ownership is coming
ss tue. Detroit Is going into the bust l'-
aSnass of trimming all its street cars.
thirty years warfare ends WIFI
~ the city paying s19,s5o 900 for 27s
miles Of track, 1929 cars, two power
s1ssstations and ss,ooo,ooo wort. or
estate.
Public support OF the mluionnre
mayors revolutionary tractor
sans and favorable court decis-
giving cities the right TO re-
1 move public utilities at the termln-
ton OF franchises, brought about
:sfthe@ change.
Backed into a corner. the Detroit
United Railways-harassed also oy
;sfff,e growth OF competitive munlc.
Jpal lines of fifty nine miles So Oh
agreed to sell for S3l ,Ooo'-
1000. Mayor Couzens said Sl9'eeo'-
900 or ottfng-and won.
The dawn Of complete munlcipa a
OF street car lines mas
b JssSroit owner of So miles OIL trach
s.sand 1857 cars as well as employer
1900 men.
means civic harmony and a
;tx-'r 90 COIlZenS.
9sfssHsysry conductor and every mo-
Norman will be q direct ambassa-
dor from city hall to the public
Four hundred million people
Detroit cars every year. That
Juat SO many contacts with
people by direct representa-
lives OF the administration. So u
3 III be1oove the administration to
81 81 make its municipality owned system
Saperfect one. Or the people VII
II change the administration.
Couzens thinks every city can
4 ayinS the club OF municipal own
28serrship over its traction lines And
Il IA doesn't intend to stop there. He
rs planning purchase of/the gas
z supply next year
canvass OF traction employees
shows that they are not against
Il municipal ownership, though 1t hits
fheir union by removing the strAke
fright
highest prevailing wages will be
paid, promises Joseph S. Goodwin
formerly OF Bridgeport, Conn, gen
eTal manager of the system, re-
Ssponsible only to the mayor
The city charter prohibits union
4 a. among6p service employees. So
has been announced that while
81 f1le men may have whatever unlon
II dissemination they wish. the CITY
sill sign no working agreement
nor tolerate strike clauses
sIf there is a strike says ROSS
Schram, assistant general manager
1--WE shall man the cars with flre-
men$and police!
go Couzens promises cent rare
~ it'll apenny for a tranSfer-Wlsn
SSsss.,lSTeductio,, in fare If earnings war.
rant.
"a 81 900, 900 bond issue, APPROX
y dsby 81 per cent of Detroit voters
(; San election last month, will take
care OF the initial payment OF sS'-
100000 The balance will be MADE
IN semi-annual payments or sow.
81 900 each. .,.;o,,,
q says the mayor, with service ~
cost. ' ,' ;..
Couzens, a dynamic business
strategist, who made ms tor.une :
with Henry Ford, promises that
s s4raction municipal ownership will
not be saddIed on taxpayers.
IA @Ffxed charges and operating
u costs will be met from earnings
WITH several ..safety valve funds
aside to pay bonded lndenteo-
Ness and other emergency items.
FProfits, after debts AFRO paid, VIII
a to lettering the system.