The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-06-13
The City Council Refuses to Take the
Amending Railway Ordinance
From the Table.
THE MAYOR STANDS AGAINST 1T
Declares an Important Motion Out of order
and Route Will Not Be Changed. New
Poor House Movement Started

There was a short, sharp contest be-
tween the friends and foes of the Ke-
nosha Railway company at the meet
| ing of the City Council Wednesday
night and the foes won victory
Whether the victory was by right or
by trickery, it will take wiser heads
than ellis Honor, the Mayor" and the
mem ers of the Common Council to
decide. The battle over the railway
question lasted only few minutes,
but while it lasted it proved a great
success as a producer OF excitement.
The question was first brought to the
notice of the aldermen by letter from
| B. J. Arnold, asking the Council to
take some action to return to the com
pany the plans for the new Main street
bridge. The letter stated that 1t would
require seven months to get the or1oge
into position and for this reason the
company were anxious to get started
with the work. After some discussion
it was discovered that the plans for
the bridge were now in lie hands of
the government, and that no further
action could be taken until the ap-
proved plans were returned to the City
Engineer. With this the bridge mat
ter was dropped and the aldermen
waded into the question of the pro-
posed change in route.
Alderman O'Brien stated in forclble
language that he opposed the change
in route and he further stated that IT
the change was made the tracks would
never be extended west Of the tracks
of the Northwestern railway. Alder
man Sch1enker took issue with O'Brlen
and declared that Mr.. Arnold had
spent sufficient money in Kenosha to
show that he was acting in good faith.
He said that the local company had
been loaded down with conditions, and
concluded his address to the Council
bv moving that the amending ord1-
nance, providing for the change in
route, be raised from the table. OBr1en
was ready with an amendment that
the ordinance remain on the table.
The amendment was promptly lost by
vote of six to seven. The original
motion was urged and short parli-
mentarv tiff followed after which the
MAYOR took a stand with the foes of
the ordinance and declared alderman
Sch1enker's motion out of order. In
the meantime the foes of the ordinance
had made several unsuccessful eHorts
to adjourn, but the friends OF the COM
pany were clearly i'll the majority and
defeated these efforts to thwart leg1s-
1ation During the debate Schlenker
became quite excited and declared that
no railway company should have
franchise to build on West Main street
so long as he was member OF the
Council, It is probable that the change
in route will be brought up a the next
meeting of the Council.
After the railway fight the remain
der of the Council was as tame as a
dog fight would be when compared
with battle for the worlds champion
ship. The aldermen were IN funny
mood and were anxious to adjourn at
the least suggestion Of an argument.
Petitions were presented from the
residents of Prairie avenue, Park ave
uue and Park Place, asking that the
streets be sprink1ed and the request
was granted and the clerk ordered to
advertise for bids.
Alderman Hermann started the ma
chinery in motion for new poor
house, to be large enough to house all
the poor of the city. The Mayor re-
ferred the further action on this mat
ter to the pauper committee who will
report at the next meeting of the
Council.
The bill of John c. Slater for ser
vices and expenses as City Attorney
amounting to 1878 was allowed.
The clerk was ordered to have all
claims against sewer contractor Mr..
]. Fitzgibbon presented to the Council
by July 1st.
It was decided to build new pipe
sewer on Milwaukee avenue from
Howe street to the present sewer be-
| fore the street was paved and the City
Engineer was ordered to make the
necessary estimates.
Before an adjournment was taken
| the aldermen managed to reach the
| business for which the meeting was
called and James Pennefeather, W. 2.
| O'Donne11, Hubert Schwan. J. H.
Charles and Henry Jordan were named
| as Commissioners to open South EX-
| cl,9nre street To Rain avenue,