The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-04-20

details and sufficiently vivid magma
ton would set himself to writing
book on the history of Electric Railway
ordinances in the Kenosha City Coun
Gil, the result would no doubt be a mos
saleable and entertaining work. With
care and economy it might all be put
into % or 30 NO. volumes without &c
crOwding the matter as to make it ap-
pear encyclopaedia. For four long and
weary years the Common Council, and
andeed the city itself, has struggled and
.agonized over the question of railway
franchises. After numerous evolutions
of very burlesque nature they have
finally passed an ordinance granting to
the Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha
Electric Railway Co. the privilege to
lay road through the city and oper-
ate it throughout long period of
years. But, as is usual in such cases,
now that the nexed question is appar-
entity decided, the people are dissatis-
fed and feel very sure that a much
Tbetter contract could have been made
than the present.
Chief among the propositions which
have thus far been presented to the
city are three: LIST, That of the Mil
waukee, Racine & Keaosha Electric
Railway Co. End, That of Fred S.
Comstock, of Chicago; and 3rd, That
of Mr.-Z G.. Simmons, presented to the
retiring Council at it's last session.
Assto the Fred S. Comstock ordinance,
ritwas probably the best ever presented
TO the consideration of our august
Council, but though they passed it they
Dlaye6 such a game of " blind-man's
95ntfv with it afterwards that it was
Dermitted to die natural death. In
fact, it was too good to be true, and
like all other good things died young.
The other two propositions, that rep
resented by the ordinance of the M. R.
Xxx, and that offered by Mr.. q. G.
simmons, both of which occupied the
attention of the city fathers Tuesday
evening, caused the last dying spasms
gf the old Council which resulted in the
acceptanee of the former and the re-
lection of the latter. The two PROPOSE
tions are the same, but still radically
different. That of the M. R. & K. is 80
we'll known to the public as to need no
presentation. Mr.. Simmons PROPOSE
tion was identical with this difference,
shat it provided to give the city some
material compensation in the shape OF
a percentage of the net income, to be
divided every i've years. Otherwise
there is no difference between the two
propositions. The opposition to Mr..
Simmons offer, developed in the
Council, and circulated somewhat
about the town, to the effect that, ii
granted, it would necessite the pay
ment of a double fare, whereas, the
other required but one, does not seem
TO be very we'll grounded. Mr.. Sim
mons proposed to take the franchise
which the Council gave the M. R. & K
with the favorable conditions which he
suggested embodied. In other re-
spects the franchise would be the same
as that the NJ. r. & <. now have
That franchise does not permit of any
change of fare. If the objection az
against Mr. Simmons would hold, il
would also hold as against the NJ. R. &
K, for the franchise given the M. R. 6
z. was the franchise which Mr.. Sim
mons offered to take. That objection
being done away with, the proposition
of Mr.. Simmons remains with thu
double advantage of his citizenship
and its provisions to compensate thu
city itself Had the City Council de
ferred action on the matter it would
seem that there could have been NJ
doubt that on mature deliberation Mr.
Simmons offer would have beer
accepted.
AS it is, there may still remain
chance for the city to redeem itsel
through its administration and Civ
both Mr.. Simmons and his proposal TIL
consideration which they most Ger
tainly merit. Certain falacies found il
the manner IN which the M. R. & z
ordinance was passed may yet lead t
its destruction. In that case Their
could be little reason to hesitate abou
giving Mr.. Simmons franchise on tn
very favorable conditions which b
proposes.
Ian MCCLAREN and Col. " Teddy
Roosevelt seem to differ quite widel
on the kind of life necessary for tn