Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-01
Citizens League
No Vote Plea
0nGdsHi

City officials charged today
that the Detroit Citizens League
did not take the trouble to inform
itself of the facts before advising
its members TO vote down the
municipal gas plant proposal.
Assistant Corporation Council
james II. Lee went before the gas
town meeting" last night and
attacked the civic organizations
adverse report-sentence by SEN
tence.
In addition Lee called the roll
of the members of the leagues
recommendation committee, Civ
ing occupations of the members,
and charged the group is demi-
mated by lawyers. busoiness men
and captains OF industry.
NEVER ASKED FACTS
81 have worked for the city
of Detroit on the gas question
since 1882 and never In that
the Detroit Citizens League
called upon me or any other
member OF the corporation
cOunsel's office for information
on this subject" Lee declared
II call on them now to tell
the people Of Detroit how they
arrived at their conclusion.
II do not charge any improper
conduct on the part of the
league In writing this decision
but i do say that IL ought 10
get the facts before reaching a
conclusion.
II am not quarreling with
these folks as individuals hut I
do take issue with them when
they take upon themselves the
responsibility of trying TO tell
the people of Detroit how 10
vote on an important municipal
issue without themselves making
a study of the question"
CHARGES ERRORS
Lee pointed out a number of
statements in the leagues report
which he claimed were erroneous,
including the assumption that the
Detroit plan" was still in effect.
that the proposed gas bonds would
be a burden on the taxpayers
and that the involvement of fed
eral rate making agencies in the
city'S gas problem would be a
disadvantage.
where did they get their in
formation ?" Lee asked
What are the questions they
cannot get the answers to-
Wouldn't you think they
would have called us over 10
their offices and asked us Ia
ait down with them and tell our
side of this story
Lee charged that the imposition
of excess gas rates constituted
'legalized robbery" and the sums
involved in public utility rate
litigation made the alleged graft
payments TO public officials look
like chicken feed
THE Citizens League has
been telling Us for years that
the Detroit city government
was one of the best in the
country and that Its publicly
owned utilities here were we'll
run.
"Why their change Of front
overnight ."
SCHRENK'S TESTIMONY
The examination of witnesses
included testimony from Louis J.
Schrenk. manager OF the public
lighting commission who stated
that in his opinion the operation
of gas utility BY the city was
feasible.
Under cross examination by
Henry A Montgomery gas con-
pany attorney. Schrenk disclosed
that he also favored a plan for
putting the public lighting com
mission directly into the business
Of selling electricity TO the public
in certain areas Of the city
Tho testimony of witnesses was
followed by question and answer
period which became so boisterouS
toward the close that Federal
Judge Frank A. Picard, the town
meeting" referee. had TO have one
heckler elected from the room
after he had shouted that he was
being gagged