Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-03
Some TownHaII Questions


THE so-caed town hall meetings on whether the city
shall buy the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company
are doubtless good idea.
They were devised by the City Council ostensiby as
open forum where the people of Detroit might air their
views on this highly important and controversial question
Thus far though they haven't worked out that way.
Instead of being real od-fashoned American town hall
meetings with the citizens of the town allowed free hand
say their say the meetings date have been restrained
and formalized.
They have had faint of artificiaty and stage-craft
They have been confined to polite debates set questions
(publcized advanced between carefully chosen repre-
sentaes of the city administration and the gas company
If the town hall meetings continue in this vein they
not worth the time wasted them. If they don't
get down to brass tacks they should be abandoned.
HE proposition of the City of Detroit going into the
gas business is serious. 1t is altogether too serious
to be utilized publicity stunt for nine councmen all
of whom have to run for reelection this year.
If the councmen choose to play charades in their
council chamber let them employ matter of less
portent.
If they sincere in this matter of buying the gas
company let them conduct their hall meetings the
level Let them find out how the citizens feel by per-
hitting the citizens to get up their feet and ask
questions
Here for instance are few questions that have been
submitted to this newspaper by its readers They reflect
both sides of the debate
st\YIHAT did the Michigan Consolidated Gas Com
w pany management mean i'm its initial statement
that if the people of Detroit wanted buy the company
would sell, but the people of Detroit should keep their
eyes OPEN"
what is the condition of the underground equip
ment of the company? How old is it and how much
would it cost the city to rehabiltate it,"
Precisely what is the inter relationship of the gas
company with its various holding companies and what
is the possibility of ensuing litigation with these holding
corporations should the city acquire the gas cOmpany
"Nhat proportion of the individual Detroiter's gas
bill represents valid service by the company and what
proportion goes to the myriad holding companies"
ss\X/HAT is the future of gas domestic and indus
w trial fuel: Will it retain its present status for
considerable period do the gas company heads
realize it is declining and will be virtually elmi
mated by electric and hydro electric power and other
fuels?"
IF the city buys the company will it remove the
huge gas tank adjacent to the City Airport which is
considered the chief hazard to- that arport?"
will the city, in the event of purchase, take
the employees of the company will it start operation
from scratch with employees endorsed by council
men with election promises to pay OFF,
"Will the city sell gas stoves and other gas appl-
to individual consumers and, if not, what will
happen to this part of the company present busness
Why not throw these queries into the hopper and
thresh them out?
Why not urge the citizens generally to express their
opinions?
That's the practical way to learn whether they want
their city to buy the gas company.