The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-02-22
CONSOLIDATION"
BRISTOL. FEE. 18th. 1872.


on the consolidation of Kenosha and Racine
Counties. In his replyit is apparent that
his logic is faulty, or he has very singular
way of ''tryihg to enzighten the people" It's
barely possible the people are in need of
leave, to enlighten and quicken their intel
lectual perceptions but hardly think they
have reached that depth Of obtuseness, that
they are unable to distinguish the difference
between facts and figures, and figures that
are not facts. though the difference may be
spun to the finest kind of hair splitting.
Since he is inclined to "draw the thing
ine," I shall have to meet him on his own
ground. He says, "In your issue of last week
G. I. appeared with lengthy article, in
which were discussed Gn his way) several
su6jects' First, did not appear with, or
without lengthy article. as have not been
to the City this winter. Second I discussed
but one subject, but gave several reasons why
that subject-County Unon--should prevail
and done it in my aOGy as I shall this time,
and leave the people to judge of it's soundness.
G.. I. s. did not intend to accuse the Co.
Clerk of making garbled statements in the
Republican, nor of any thing else, for he
believes him to be an honest upright gentle
man, and he did not suppose it possible for
hina--wlth all knowledge on the subject be-
fore him-to make such statements. He
says that the sum of $293, 80. was allowed by
the Co. Board, but not paid when he made
his report, and therefore was no expenditure,
but a liability. How is it then that he
states in the Republican, that ''the entire cost
of providing for the poor of the County, was
in 1871, 1904 94?" Simply this, 1904, 80, was paid
WHEN he made his report, and the remainder,
$780, "a, had to be paid as soon as taxes were
collected both were debts incurred for support
of Co. poor, but the one paid was Co. poor
expense, and the other 'zta6ilitu''-truIy a
distinction without difference-that he of
necessity n ust make to attempt to prove that
the entire cost of Co. poor for said year was
but 1904 a.. But again, he says "the further
sums OF 1862 95 and $780, are charges for
boarding aud examining insane persons, the
came are not proper poor accounts, as insane
persons are not considered as psupers under
the la VS. of the State" 1t matters not, what
they may be considered, they are a Co. ex-
pense, and their maintenance is provided
for in the same way-though different in
form-as paupers. See chapter II. of the
General Laws of 1858. Page 1862. Revised
Statute 1t seems to me that the effort to
place expenses in light and form from what
the PLAIN facts of the case are, that the case
must be bad one, else why such singular
disposition of it AS stated in my last article
each Town bears it's own poor expenses SO
does the City. That expense for this town
for 1871, is $4,000, and other Town nearly
$1,000 90. The salary of the Co. agent and
Poor Master-who is also Co. Clerk-for the
same time is, $4,000. Making total Co. poor
expenses $3566 90, and six Towns and the
City OF Kenosha yet to hear from, which will
increase the actual expenses for support OF
poor in TIE Co. for the year 1871, to over
$4,000 90. 1 do not think any one charges
the Co. Clerk at fault for any thing. He
certainly is blameless as regards all expense,
and so far as I know his report is correct,
only he and differ as to the actual expense
of Co. poor. I doubt not he hears many
false reports, and is led to think people Ian
him. have talked with great many, and
all speak in his praise, and l trust mutual
good feeling will characterize this discussion
to the end, both through the press and other
wise. AS am not certain that shall take
up the pen to resume this discussion, l wish
to present in all of it's bearings. In the first
place the County of Racine was divided at
the instance of the minority. 1t was the work
of Kenosha men. The people of the Country
who were opposed to it, were not consulted,
their names were put on petition and sent
to Madison that favored div ision of the
Co. when they were opposed to said division.
Geographically the Co. was too small to make
two Counties, SO large portion of Lake
Michigan was added to the territory-a 1cdter
privilege that neither pays taxes, nor
amounts to much any way, only to wash
Kenosha into the lake Second, our popula-
ton is so small that we can never be properly
represented In the Legislature. Third, our
territory is so small that to support Co.
a government - Erect and keep in repair
suitable buildings, support court, and Co.
, officers, and establish q poorhouse and farm
: will ever make o tax burdensome to the
people, and every thing of that kind will
necessity be third rate affair. Fourth, the
/ population of our Co. has decreased in the
! last ten years at most 800. There is not an
! ocher instance of the kind in the State, nor
= Il + 49,
perhaps in any other northern State, where
=. Go. has the best location, is fertile in soil,
and convenient to the best markets in tbs
] west and yet the value Of real estate is less
: than in the Counties north, west or south of
e us. Fifth, our Agricultural Society is bank