Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-04-21


legally opened TO it.
The granting of licenses is matter of dis
erection left entirely with the City board AS
one of that board | have uniformly discoan-
tenanced and voted against the applications
made. Desiring that the principle which
actuated me in this course, and which will
govern ME hereafter, may b, understood,
shall restate il !; and this can be done in
very few words. The traffic is right in itself
or wrong. II the first, there is no more jrs
tice or propriety in requiring that licenses
shall be Obtained; bonds given, and a heavy
special tax imposed for prosecuting it, than
there would be as regards any other ord-
nary legitimate business or calling. If the
last, the public authorities have no more
right 10 give II statutory endorsement for
a pecunIary consideration, than to adopt Il
similar course of policy in respect to any
other wrong. By giving it a license, and
the sanction and support of law, they be-
come in an emphatic sense parties TO the
wrong, and are morally responsible for the
evil consequences that ensue. The idea that
the traffic will exist whether licensed or not,
and Its evils continue TO be inflicted upon
community with or without legal charter;
and that, therefore, il is not improper for go
ciety TO derive a revenue from it, MS IL means
OF repairing partially the pccuniarv damages
sustained, would be just as valid if presented
as All argument in favor of granting indnl-
gcnce, for similar consideration, 10 almost
any species of wrong doing. II may be that
by withholding license, the extent Of the traf-
tic or its evils would not be dimnished-al
though this is a point which admits of cues
tiou;-yet one thing is evident, course of
this kind, notwithstanding a few dollars less
might be derived to the city treasury, would
be placing the ban instead of the sanction of
the public authorities upon the traffic, would
be compelling it to take a less respectable,
conspicuous, and tempting position than it
now occupies, would relieve the City from
the odium of being its guardian and from the
responsibility of being 'particcps criminis
in its wrongs, while we should not be com
PEELED to occupy the incor sistent position of
holding zap the liquor seller with one hand,
when with the other we are visiting upon his
besot:ed victim; whose selfcontrol NAV have
been stolen from him, the penalties Of the
law he has unconsciously violated.
Municipal and Police Departments
For services in the Municipal department
orders were issued to the amount of S44+, rs
I follows: 20 dollars to the Mayor, $50 to the
Clerk, and 81 TO Aldermen. S499 20 was
the amount drawn the former year on this
account.
Our Police is but nominal departments
and the duties to be discharged under this
head, during the past year, were. | am hap
Ply TO say, exceedingly light. Five or six
arrests for street drunkenness comprise about
the sum total of the offences committed
against Ordinances of the City, and indicate
the extent of the police duty falling upon tho
Mayor and Marshal under those Ordinances
Beyond the salary OF the Marshal, which was
fixed ut 5000 per year by the late Council,
for the discharge of his general duties, the
sum of only Sl2 was expended on police ac
count, making in all S2l2. The expenditure
of the preceding year on the same account,
was 500.
Fire Department.
The present condition of this useful De-
partment, is set forth in the subioncd COM
munication from the Chief Engineer 1t will
be observed with qualification that thi, con-
ditinn still continues to be one of crcditablc
completeness and efficiency. From frequent
ly occurring fires our city has enioycd IL re
markable and happy exemption during the
past few years. The fact, however, that
those which did occur, were so slightly de
structive in their character, is to be attributed
solely TO the prompt, skilful, and successful
efforts Of our fircmen, in the generous dis
charge of voluntarily assumed, though gen
orally onerouS and dangerous duties. The
extent of the obligation existing on the part
of the community towards this class of men,
it were hard to estimate. And the least the
public authorities can do in the way of show
ing their appreciation OF the important ser
vices rendered, is TO be prompt and liberal in
looking after and sustaining the interests of
the Department.
Appropriations amounting to S450 o. were
made the past year on Fire Department &C
count The greater portion of this sum was
used in the building of three additional rescr-
voirs in various portions Of the city as a
means of attordin- increased security against
fire. What may be required for this purpose
at the hands of the Council the present wear
is indicated by the report of the Chief Engi-
neer, 10 whose suggestions particular atten-
ton is referred.
IoHe Mayor and Common Council othc
city Of henoshu:
The Fire Department of the City. still
continues IN a state of great efficiency.
and merits. as believe it has received,
your confidence and appreciation. The
City has since my last report Ecen par
ticularl Y exempted from Calamties and
losses by fire. Only two fires have oc-
CURED during the past year, since my
last report; and those were eNt;ngu;Shed
kv the active ani wcl-drected eXertionS
of the fire companies with but trifiing
loss. the whole amount not exceeding
$50, most IF which was covered by in
slrance. The present effective strength
Of the Department is rs follows: Engine
c.. No. / 81 men; Engine Co. No. >.
- men; Hook and Ladder Go. No. |.
- men, making a total Of "a men. The
apparatus of the Department is in COM
Flctc repair, and it is t. the complete or
der III which the respective companies
have kept their apparatus. as we'll as their
prai>c-Worthy promptnc>S. to which the
very small damage sustained in the fires
winch occurred may he attributed. The
reservoirs ordered by the City have been
constructed, and except the one in the
Park, viii afford sufficient supply Of
water for their respective localities. The
one in the Park requires to be cleared
out again as considerable quick-Sand has
driitcd in and partly filed it up. would
call the attention Of the Common Coun-
ell to the rropriety Of constructing the
platforms on the banks of the creek which
| recommended in my former report.
And would also recommend that an addi-
tlonal supp II oficadlng hose. say 300 feet.
as necessary t. the usefulness If the De
partmcnt in some quarters Of the City
where water is not easily accessible. liz
conclusion | wouli respectfully congrat-
uiate the City upon possessing a Depart
mcnt Of such excellent material, and rec
ommcnd it to your continued favor. and
of that of the citizens. Respectfully