The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-11-28
Attorney General Gilbert Gives
an Opinion But Not a De.
olson on Road Matter
BOARD STILL IN A QUANDARY
for the Bettering of Conditions
at the County Jail. An
nual Visit Made

Attorney General Gilbert does not
seem to be any too certain as to the
Interpretation which should be placed
ca the new highway law as passed by
the State Legislature at it's last ses-
sion and when asked by the County
Board to make decision on the ques-
ton as to whether the tax should be
levied against property in the city as
well as in the rural towns he declined
to give decision but he gave it as a
personal opinion from his examina-
ton of the law that a levy against the
city property would be legal under
the provisions of the law. HIS did
not attempt to forecast the possible
decision of the Supreme Court on the
question. The opinion was verbal
one given over the long distance
telephone to District Attorney Baker
and it was not very satisfactory one
to the members of the County Board.
In fact they are in jast as much of
quaudary as ever and even some of
the rural members of the Board admit
that the plan to tax the city for these
roads in the county is a g1aring in
equality of taxation. The question
was discussed at the session on
Thursday afternoon and it was
thought that action would be taken
Friday morning, but when the
Board met the members we're as far
apart as ever and nothing was done
either to levy the tax or name high
way commissioner. The matter was
taken up again Friday afternoon.
On account of the fact that levy
of taxes is demanded the whole bust
ness of the Board will be held up until
such time as a decision is reached
on the matter. 1t seems that all
Boards in the state are handling the
matter with gloves and it is probable
that before the matter is settled it
will be taken before the Supreme
Court of the state. The town mem
bers of the Board are ready to make
the levy, but the city members of the
Board are a unit in the opinion that a
levy on the property in the city would
be VIGOROUSLY unfair. They have
considered plan of acting together
and deadlock the Board on such a
levy, but nothing would be gained by
this, as the other members of the
Board, if they saw fit, could get out a
mandamus writ forcing the Board to
act, and nothing would be gained.
It is said that the proper way to get
the matter into the Supreme Court
would be to have the collectors of the
taxes enjoined from collecting the
quarter mill tax in the city districts,
and the decision on this injunction
would bring the matter before the SUI
preme Court in the proper light.
Friday morning the Board received
communication from the State
Board of Control demanding that
many changes be made at the county
jail. The report was based on the in.
vestigation of the jail recently made
by DR.. Alma Frisby, of Milwaukee.
The Board found that there was not
light enough in the Jail and that the
cells were not arranged in the proper
manner for the care and comfort OF
the prisoners and they asked thai
changes be made. No action was
taken on the communication.
During Friday morning the members
of the Board went to the jail in body
and made the annual inspection.
Every part of the jail was found to be
in excellent condition. 1t is possible
that the matter of making repairs on
the interior and exterior of the build
ing will be taken up later in the SEES
sion, but it is not likely that any large
appropriation will be made for this
purpose.