The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-22
CITY RAILWAYS
FORGE RACE
| FOR MAYOR
MAY Become Main Issue in
Election for couzens' z
Successor in Detroit.
By w. r. sTOKLEY.
international News Service.


DETROIT, Jan. 22.-Detroit' 8
street railway system, for many
years a~political football, has been
kicked back on the mayoralty grid
iron again and promises to be the
outstanding issue when the Detroit
ers go to the polls to pick the man
to succeed Senator James CouZens,
who resigned recently to take Tru-
man H Newberry's seat in the
United States Senate.
John Lodge, president of the city
council. has taken over Mayor Con-
Gems Job temporarily. Under the
city charter Lodge must call a
special election within six months.
Detroit has In operation the
largest municipality owned street
car system in the world. Couzens
formulated the plan to purchase the
old Detroit United Railway lines
and finally s'sold'' the idea to the
people, after one of the bitterest
fights in the history Of Detroit. The
Detroit United Railway Company
was willing to sell-but at its own
price. Couzens refused to buy at
the d. U. r. figure and appealed
to the people.
A substantial majority was rolled
up for the amendment empowering
the mayor to GUST the D. U. r., and
Couzens issued an ultimatunn. A
compromise was reached, and the
line passed into the hands OF the
city.
Couzens has left q big job for a
big man. The municipality owned
system is still a youngster and
must be nursed along to have fair
chance to slive." The street-car
system has made money under city
operation, but the experiment. has
barely been started. and the .pr1nci-
pie has many enemies.
With Couzens out Of the way,
friends Of private ownership see a
chance to stage successful come.
back" Under the city charter the
mayor names the general manager
of the municipality owned lines and
IL responsible for practically every
thing that happens TO the city gov.
eminent. It Is doubtful whether
the lines could be operated profit
ably under city control should en-
eniies OF municipal ownership elect
Among those mentioned as likely
candidates are: Frank Doremus,
former United States Congressman;
w. Marx, ex-mayor, and Judge Ed
ward ]. Jeffries.
Ford Favored Cut.
Henry Ford created quite q stir
when he suggested cutting street
car fares one-half. Detroiters now.
nay q straight five-cent Fare. Pros
13ective candidates will probabfy be
asked during the campaign il they
think this is possible. They may
also be asked how It can be done
and who they are going to place in
COntrol of the lines.
A few months ago the automobile
manufactures reduced the price OF
his cars below the cost OF produc-
ton. Increased sales resulted, and
he has made more money than ever
before. The same principle can be
applied to the municipality owned
street-car lines. Ford believes.
"I am in favor OF cutting the
fares one-half building extensions
and improving the service, even IL
taxpayers have to help out little
on it at the start" says Ford.
'HThat would treble the business.
People would find they could ride
the cars so cheaply that tens OF
thousands who drive to and from
work would ride the cars-the saw.
ing would be so considerable they
would have to. And that one step
alone would go very largely toward
solving the congestion in downtown
streets.
Against Politicians.
Detroit ought not to elect a pro-
fessionaI politician mayor. Lets get
rid of politicians. Detroit needs a
man capable Of making municipal
ownership q success. The polit-
clans can't do it.
I'VE are installing a lot of addi-
Gonal power at River Rouge, which
We will be glad to sell to the nu-
nicipal lines-and very cheap" says
Ford in pIedging aid to the project.
Ford has been keeping in close
touch with the municipality owned
lines. William B. Mayo, his chief
engineer, is also q member Of the
street railway commission. Cou-
zens carried many a knotty prob
lem to Mayo.
How far will Ford go to "get rid
Of the politicians?" Will there be an
out-and-out Ford candidate, pledged
to inaugurate Ford's scheme to cut
the fares in half and treble the bus
iness? Could such candidate be
alaofod2