The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-01
THEANSWER Is FILED
THE CHARGES OF BRIBERY CREATE
CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION.
MAY BE A SERIOUS BLUNDER
Some Part of the Answer Said to be Very
Weak-Attorneys Say 1t was Changed
Before Being Filed-Did Not Intend
to Accuse Alderman Calkins.

The answer of City Clerk Jacob to
the writ of mandamus recently asked
for by the Milwaukee Light, Heat and
Traction company demanding that the
city clerk publish the alleged railway
franchise was the principal topic of
conversation on the streets today.
Everywhere it is regarded that the
charges made in the answer as made
public are Of a very sensational nature,
but it is hardly thought that anything
will come of the matter. Opinions of
the answer vary. Some business men
were interviewed and stated that they
thought the answer went entirely too
far, while others expressed the opinion
that the city had adopted blufing
process to carry the point against the
company. Several attorneys were in
tervieWed this morning, among them
being being Mr.. Fisher and Mr.. Slater.
Both of these gentlemen refused to say
anything about the answer. Mr.. Fisher
intimated that the meaning of one of
the clauses had either been misunder-
stood or that an error had been made
in the wording of the clause but he
positively refused to make any state
ment in regard to the clause. 1t is
supposed that the clause referred to is
the onG in which the name of Alderman
Calkins is mentioned, and from 1.-The
statements of the different attorneys it
is very evident that this clause is not
written as it was intended to be. 1t is
we'll known that Mr.. Calkins did not
vote for the passage of the ordinance
and the clause alleges that this alder
man was among the aldermen who
favored the ordinance. When Mr..
Slater was urged to say something
in regard to the answer he stated that
the answer had not as yet been filed
and that he would not be at liberty to
say anything until the matter was in
court. He said, however, that before
the answer was filed some changes
would be made in it. When asked as
to what these changes would be the
attorney said he was not able to state.
He said, however, that none of the
allegations which have been considered
as sensational would be eliminated.
The charges alleging conspiracy and
that money or something, or things of
value, had been received by one or
more of the aldermen according to the
attorney will remain intact.
Attorney B. K. Miller, who repre-
sents the Milwaukee Heat, Light and
Traction company in the Kenosha
controversy, said last night that he
knew nothing of the alleged irregulari-
ties under which the franchise is said
to have been granted. He had not
seen the answer to the proceedings
pending, and was not prepared to
speak of the charges made. Referring
to the charge that the line was a COM
mercial railway corporation, because it
carried freight, Mr.. Miller said the
statute permitted street railways to
carry freight, but that he did not
know the Kenosha road to have ever
carried it. The mandamus proceed
ings instituted by the company are to
come up in the June term of court at
Kenosha.
The much talked of answer was filed
with Clerk of the Court Maloney this
afternoon and while some changes may
have been made in the answer they
are not noticeable to the casual reader.
j. E. Crook, Kenosha, has been
granted patent for staple lock.