The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-04-06
{ NUMBER As.

ton had to be paid out of the peoples
money, and the law-abiding taxpayers
were burdened to raise the funds This
should De remedied and the remedy, as far
as the city of Kenosha is concerned, is pro-
vided In the city charter, If the council will
only apply it. By reference to page IA OF
the published charter and ordinances of the
city, you will find section of chapter of
the charter which empowers the council to
impose penalties. and enforce the same by
fine, imprisonment or in any other manner
they may provide, against persons commit
ting misdemeanors. Here then is conferred
upon the council the power to employ petty
malefactors upon the public works, instead
OF being imprisoned in default of paying
fines that have been imposed upon them,
if your honorable body may deem it best to
do So Here then is the remedy which may
perhaps be applied in the shape of amend
ments to section one and two of ordinance
twelve, to be found on page 70. This ordi-
nance treats "of offences against public or
der and morals" Section one of this ordi-
nance, after ennmerating certain kinds of
offences, reads-"every such person so of
Tending shall forfeit for each such offence a
penalty not exceeding ten dollars, and In
default Of the payment thereof, shall be i'm
prisoned in the county jail ten days." By
striking ont the last clause-"shall be i'm
prisoned in tie county Jail ten days" and
inserting instead oft something like the
following ''shall be adjudged to hard labor
upon the public streets or other public works
| of the city, under the charge of the marshal
Or some one of the street supervisors for ten
days, during the working hours thereof.
and shall be boarded and lodged in the
county jsil during such period, or until such
fine shall be paid-each days labor of said
person to be accounted to him as payment
of one dollar of said fine; !" which I think
would enable the officers to arrest, try,
convict and fine such persons under the city
ordinance, and in default of payment thereof
be set at work on the streets or other public
works of the city and thus relieving the
| tax payers of the burden of their punish
n4ent. Section two of this same ordinance
may be amended in the same manner, by
making the penalty SIS or fifteen days
work. Your consideration of this subject
is earnestly requested.
The condition of our harbor is a matter
that should claim good deal of your at
Ltention; for upon the facility of ingress and
egress, the depth of water, the extent of
dock line, and the safety which is afforded
to vessels during stormy weather depends
its usefulness as a harbor; and upon our
harbor depends in large measure the cons
mercial interests of our city. It seems to
me that every inducement should be held
out to vessel owners to hail their vessels
from this port, and the revenue derived
from the reasonable tax thus received should
be added to the harbor fund, together with
all other moneys coming into the city'e
strong bog through the harbor might be put
to the same use and by ths means the
harbor can be made to improve itself. [f
the accommodations for vessels lying up for
the winter in this harbor could be increased
it would be one inducement for vessel own
ers to hail their vessels from this port.
The lake shore, south of the harbor, for
some distance is being washed away every
year by the action of the waves during the
storms. There should be some protectionto
this portion of our lake front. A compare
lively small sum of money judiciously ex-
pended could be made the means of saving
a large amount of valuable property.
desire to call your attention to this imporl
tant matter with more than ordinary earn
estness.
Inasmuch as there have been some COM
plant by citizens of our city in reference to
the manner of disposing of the city funds,
and intim alton made that the council dare
not publish the items of expense as shown
by the report of the treasurer, l recommend
that he be required to make his quarterly
reports promptly, and that they be publish
ed with the other proceedings Of the coun-
Gil, that each one who reads may see how
the money is expended and who reaps the
benefit of its use.
The fire department should receive your
careful attention. Those having the care of
his kind of city property should be held
strictly accountable for the performance
of their duty and all appliances for the
saving of property from the flames should
oe kept in the most perfect working condi-
ion possible. While upon this subject s
wish to recommend that hand fire engine
)e placed in the third ward and suitable
building be erected for its protection. With
me hand engine in the north ward the
steamer near the border LIE of The first and
ourth wards, and one hand engine in the
bird ward, more of the property would be
within reach of assistance in case of fire
han is possible under the present arrange
nent. Ihope this subject will receive i'm
Mediate attention, as delay may result in
he loss of valuable property.
Finally, gentlemen, most earnestly urge