The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-08
FACTS LAID BARE.
RAILWAY DEAL WILL BE INvESTI-
GATED BY CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
BRIsTER RESIGNS
Refuses to Sit in the Council While He
Stands Accused of Bribery and Con-
spiracy by City of1cials- Alderman
FRANKIE will Follow Him.

The fight between the city and the
members of the old Council, who were
accused of bribery and conspiracy by
the recent answer of the City Clerk
and the City Attorney to the suits filed
by the Milwaukee Light, Heat and
Traction company, is on and before it
is concluded the people of the city will
undoubtedly have great many inter-
esting facts laid before them which will
reveal the inner workings of the
Council.
At the meeting of the City Council
Monday evening a memorial was pre-
sented by ex-Ald. Charles FL. Conner
mann, asking that the city at once
take some action for the investigation
of the charges recently made against
the Alderman and his colleagues on
account of their action in voting in
favor of the passage of the ordinance
granting to the M. R. & <. railway a
franchise through the city. In his
communication to the city Mr.. Conner
mann made no threats, but presented
the matter in a purely business way
He stated that he thought that it was
but Justice to the men accused that the
matter should be investigated in the
most thorough manner and asked that
the investigation be ordered to begin
within the next three days. He sug
gested to the Council that the affair be
left in the hands of five business men
who should be selected by the Council
or appointed by the Mayor. He asked
that the Mayor be made chairman of
the committee. In speaking of the
compensation for the committee, he said
tina each of the men chosen should re-
ceive s. a day. He specified that the
city should be represented at the in
7estigatiOn by Attorney Peter Fisher,
and that he would also be represented
by an attorney, In regard to the com
pensation for the attorneys he specified
tat they should receive So day. AS
to the expenses of the committee, ht
made the proposition to the city thai
if they were able to prove the charges
he would stand all the expense Of tht
investigation, but if they failed tt
prove them the expense was to be paiC
by the city.
AS soon as the communication wa
read Aid. FRANKIE arose. 1t was eviden
that he was speaking under a grea
strain. He simply stated that he wa
heartily in favor of the investigation
demanded by ex-Ald. Gonnermanl
and that he made the same demanC
upon the Council. Aid. Brister ais
| spoke and seconded the words of Aid
FRANKIE.
Aid. Schend moved to lay the matte
on the table, and to this Aid. Briste
returned that the matter was a very
serious one and that the accused mer
would see that the matter was not dis
posed of until the falsity or truth O.
the charges had been made plain to the
people.
Aid, Tarbell amended to refer the
matter 60 the Mayor, Attorney Fisher
and the City Attorney, and further, il
these men found that the city had any
jurisdiction over the affair, the Mayor
be empowered to proceed with the
appointment Of the committee and the
investigation without any further
action OF the Council. The amend
ment was carried, Aid. Schend alone
voting against the measure.
After she other business of the
meeting Wax -ar Aid. Brister arose
and, addressingsthe Council presented
bis resignation as alderman of the
Fourth ward. The resignation caused
ripple of excitement to pass around
the room and til was some time before
any of the aldermen were willing to
take any action on it. Finally Aid.
Sershon moved that the resignation be
accepted and the motion was carried
by a vote of 8 to 4.
Aid. FRANKIE did not resign, but it is
announced that he will sever his con-
nection with the Council at the next
meeting.
The resignation and the ordering of
the Investigation has been the topic of
on the streets today. 1t
is evident to all that the city and the
interests of the city are in serious