davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
HIT TELEPHONE LAW
State Railway Commission Makes
a Hard Hit at State TeIe-
phone Law
ORDERS R. R. TO USE PHONE

The railroad rate commission has de-
cided that the telephone facilities furn-
ished by the Great Northern railroad
at Superior are inadequate for the pub
lie in transacting business with the
railroad and has ordered the company
to install the Peoples Telephone com
pany's system in the ticket ofic on
Tower avenue and in its general
freight Office.
The railroad company has a contract
with the Douglas County Telephone
company, providing that the latter
phone should be used exclusively by
the railroad company and relied upon
it's contract with this company as a
defense to the proceedings instituted
by the Peoples Telephone company
The opinion discusses at length the
various questions arising upon the hear
ing. 1t calls attention to certain de-
fects in the recent act of the legisla-
ture, requiring telephone connection
with the railroads where none now
exist, and intimates the possible in
validity of the law.
The commission taking crack at
chapter 614, laws of 1907, requiring
telephone connections in railroads, says,
."Some of it is probably not without
merit. Unless the act may be so con
strued as to limit the right to compel
an investigation by the commission,
the persons who are directly affected
and may suffer some injury or loss be-
cause of tie inadequacy or lack of
telephone connection with the railroad,
there is just ground for apprehension
that the law may have provided means
which the INSCRIPTIONS will employ to
harrass railroads against which they
may cherish some ill-wiIl.
To compel railroad to install tele-
phone service in all instances where
none at present exist and where they
may not be essential, would be an IN
reasonable requirement and yet the
act commands that when the commits
sion, ascertaining upon investigation,
that no telephone service can be had
WIN 1OceO$ II OudlI uGGGIuIu0 ana
by order, fix a reasonable service to
be installed. 1t must follow from the
mandatory language employed that the
commission has no discretion to decide
in such or refuse to grant an order
requiring such service to be provided.
That such a regulation is not reason
able must be apparent to ALL
Nevertheless it is the business of the
judiciary and not of this commission
to declare whether any statute, under
the police power, is reasonable and
valid or unreasonable and void Until
the Supreme Court holds invalid
statute, enforcing duties upon the com
its provisions must be OBJ
served and enforced. -
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22

Fires Threaten to Destroy Big
Lace Factory in. Zion Late
Thursday Afternoon
FIREMEN AND CITIZENS FIGHT

A disastrous prairie fire covering a
tract of over a thousand acres Of land,
for several hours Thursday threatened
to set fire to the Zion City lace factory,
owned by Marshall Field & Company
of Chicago Only the heroic work of
the Zion City fire department led by
Captain Walker, assisted by Marshall
Field & Company's own company and
hundreds of residents of the city, who
turned out to help in the fight, pre-
vented the big factory from being com
pletely Quilted.
Sparks from a locomotive are thought
to have set fire to the tall grass in the
vicinity Of Beach, The grass is sew
eBal feet i'll height and extends over
a territory of thousands of acres. The
dry weather OIL late has made this
marsh grass as dry as finder
To add to the danger a strong south
wind sprung up and the fire was car,
ried with railroad speed toward Zion
City At the speed with which it was
being carried along it was seen that
the lace factory which was directly in
it's path, would be lost if something
could not be done to save it.
The management of the concern were
for sending to Naukegan and Kenosha
and getting koth departments to re-
spond to the call, but Captain Walker
assured them that he would be able
to keep the fire in check if his orders
were carried out implicitly.
Hundreds of citizens turned out and
the first thing done was to set several
back fires to stay the progress of the
flames. A lead Of one thousand feet
of hose was run out and with full pres
sure on stream of water was turned
on the grass, so that it was soaked
down fiat.
Meantime the large crowd that had
gathered aided in every way possible.
A bucket brigade was formed and this
proved a valuable help in wetting down
the grass. For hours the plucky men
stood at their post and fought the
flames which every moment it seemed
would leap past them and consume the
big lace factory.
At last after working all afternoon
the fremen were successful in stopping
the flames at Twenty-ninth street and
it was then for the first time that the
management of the big concern
breathed a sigh of relief
The fire was by big odds the biggest
that has ever occurred in this part of
the country and there was not resi-
dent of Zion City that was not worried
over the outcome.
Had it not been for the work of the
doughty chief of the fire department.,
Captain Walker and his ready wit, in
knowing just what to do at the crucial
moment, it would have been impossible
to save the lace factory, and the whole
city Of Zion might have been RACED to
the ground.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
BROKE GROUND WEDNESDAY

Actual Work is Started on the United
States Building Without Ceremonies
Ground was broken Wednesday morn
ing for the new post Office building at
the head of Market Square and not
withstanding the fact that the people
of the city had been waiting for years
for the beginning of the work on the
building there was no celebration at
tending the removal of the first
ground. The excavations are to be
rushed as rapidly as possible and it
is expected that the big hole will be
ready for the laying of the foundations
within the next two weeks Contrac-
tor Cullen of GAINESVILLE, is here in per-
son to superintend the construction
of the building and he is going to
make every possible effort to get in
the foundations this fall that the
building will not be delayed beyond the
time set for the completion Of the
work by the contract.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
CLEAN IL, LIRE RIVER
Allen Company Put Many Men to WorA
to Clean the River

Notwithstanding the fact that it is
impossible to get the dredge north Of
the Grand avenue bridge, that portion
Of the Kenosha river is to be cleaned
under the orders Of the N. r. Allen s
Sons tannery company and this morning
force OF twenty men were put to work
to remove the refuse from the river.
1t will all be hauled away and buried.
The officials Of the company will clean
out the river as far north as the plant
extends. 1t is thought that this clean
ing of the river will in a large measure
remedy all the troubles which have
caused 50 much complaint in the past.
The septic tank recently installed by
the company has rot been in use for all
the last two weeks as a portion of the
tank caved in and repairs were neces-
sary. It is claimed now that it is do
ing all that was expected Of it.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
County Clerk is Notified That No
Sta : Taxes will Be Levied
for Next Year
STATE HAS PLENTY or FUNDS
Only Tax to be Levied Will be for the
Support of the Schools and More
viii be Returned to Keno
sha County Than Paid

The taxpayers of Kenosha city and
county have been another reason to
appreciate the conservative manage
ment of the affairs Of Wisconsin under
Republican rule as this morning the
County clerk was advised that no state
tax would be levied this year with
che exception Of the small sum needed
TO pay the interest on the bonded in
debtedness incurred during the civil
war. This will mean much to the
tax payers in this city and county
as the local officials had expected that
under the valuation Of the property in
the county as fixed by the State Board
the assessment for KeDosha for state
taxes would be between $4,000 and
| sec, 000. Now it is certain that the
county's share of the state tax will
be decidedly small and the taxes
to be paid by the people of the
city and county will be reduced
just that much. 1t is probable
that the elimination of the state
tax will make it possible for the
city to provide money with a one per
cent levy for next year.
In accordance with discretionary
power conferred by law, Governor
Davidson, Secretary Of State Frear
and State Treasurer Dahl at a meeting
Thursday afternoon in Madison, re-
moved the necessity for levying "a
state tax by transferring from the
general fund to the capitol building
funQ the sum of $450,000, he amount
which the last legislature provided
should be raised by special state tax
this year to help erect the new state
house.
This was done because the general
fund now has $1,563,457 so that
$450,000 can be taken from it without
any likelihood of it being exhausted by
the demands made upon it during the
coming year. The estimated additional
receipts are $5,301 $40 and disburse-
ments in 1907 $5,801, IT'S.
The customary state taxes for edu-
cational purposes and Of which the
state treasury is merely a clearing
house viii be levied as usual These
consist of the seven-tentbs Of mill
tax for common school purposes.
amounting to about 81, 100000. the two
sevenths of a mill tax for the state
university amounting to about 100000,
the normal school tax of $230,O00, the
free high school tax of $4,000 and
the graded school tax Of $4,000
These school taxes will be divided
among the different counties in keep
ing with the valuation but it should be
remembered that much of the money
levied by the counties for state school
tax is to be returned to them with
the state aid for schools. Last year
Kenosha county received more money
back from the state than was paid in.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
TO HONOR LINCOLN
Grand Army Urged to Honor Lin.
coin on the tooth Annlver-
sary of His Birth
CoE SENDS OUT NEW ORDER

In general order issued today, De-
partment Commander E. D. Coe of the
G. A. r., specially urges observance
by every post of the centenary of
Lincoln. He says:
cone hundred years ago the 18th of
next February, Abraham Lincoln was
born. The department commander
earnestly hopes that steps will be tax
en- by every post in Wisconsin for q
suitable observance of the day. The
matter should receive early attention.
Committees composed of active, ener-
getic comrades should be appointed to
make all necessary arrangements,
There should be an address, short
talks and music.
cit goes without saying that in ali
communities, where there are posts,
there are many who would gladly
help the Granu Army of the Republic
in its efforts to bring about such a
demonstration as will not only reflect
credit upon the veterans, but upon city,
village and hamlet. The committee
on arrangements should have authori-
ty to call upon the ministers of
all denominations to make the life
and services of Abraham Lincoln
La prominent feature of their reli-
gious exercises the Sunday previous to
Feb. u. In the belief that the religi
our leaders and teachers in all the
churches will periodically respond to
the invitation to lend a. hand in max
ing the day memorable, the depart
ment commander extends to them such
an invitation to preach a sermon or
give a talk on the great, wise and first
war president the Sunday previous to
the anniversary of his birth. Members
of the Grand Army of the Republic are
urged to attend such services.
cit is most proper that our organiza-
ton take an active part in preparing
for a suitable recognition of the ami
versary of the birth of the great lead
er, whom we followed in a war that re-
suited in placing at the head of the
nations of the earth the country for
which we fought The ceremonies in
Dictated would be so appropriate, and
have such an excellent effect in the up
building Of patriotic sentiment, that it
would be most regretable not to OBJ
serve the day; and it may be added
that failure to render the observance
successful and widespread in It's in
fuences would be discreditable to our
order and the communities in which it
has an existence.
Offence it is urged that the work of
planning, committee appointing and ar.
rangements making be entered upon at
once. The hearty cooperation Of the
press can be depended upon in such an
enterprise, as it can in all worthy I'M
dertakings.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
illinois Officials Claim That Frank
Van Buren,, Arrested Here,
Heads Horse Thieves
FINDS DEFENSE MONEY READY
When Van Buren, Reached Elgin After
Being Arrested at Kenosha Money
for His Defense Had Already
Reached mat City

G. A. Schroeder Of Dundee, H., came
to Kenosha today to secure the horse
which was stolen from there a week
ago by Frank Van Buren, who was
captured with the stolen property in
Kenosha and Schroeder claims that Van
Buren, is supposed to be at the head
Of a gang Of horse thieves which have
been working IN Illinois and Wisconsin
for number Of years. When arrested
here Van Buren, claimed to be a Chi
cago man and he made a confession
to the local officials and showed no
desire to fight his being returned to
the Illinois county for trial. When he
reached Elgin last Friday afternoon he
found letter awaiting him at the jail
which brought money and plenty of
money for his defense and the officials
declare that this money was sent in by
other members Of the gang Of which
Van Buren, according to their belief
was the leader. Van Buren, since he
reached the EIgin jail has retained an
attorney and declares that he will not
plead guilty to The charges, but will
put up a determined fight for his iber-
ty.
In the past year and a half more
than a score Of horses have been
stolen in the territory within fifty
mics Of Kenosha and only few of
these animals have been recovered
The work has been done in a systematic
manner and the Investigations that
have been made indicate that the gang
of thieves have relays who take
charge of horses and thus make it pos
sible for the men alleged to be con
nected with the stealing of the animals
to prove an aibi The officials claim
that if the thief is to be caught he
must be caught within few miles OF
the place where the horse was stolen
It is understood that Van Buren, vii
seek to establish an alibi and will
claim that the horse which was found
in his possession was purchased by hin
from another and that his alibi viii
be strong enough to make it impossi
BILE to convict him as the real thief
Kenosha county has lost half 2
dozen horses in a year and a half and
but one of them has been recovered
In many counties of the state horse
thief detectives societies are being
formed and an effort is being made tC
start a similar movement among The
farmers of Kenosha and Racine coun
ties.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
Walter Thomas Mills opens Cam
paigO for the Social Demo
Gratis Wednesday Night
SEES PANACEA IN SOCIALISM
Brilliant Organizer Of National Party
Speaks to Large Crowd at the
Rhode Opera House and
Gets Good Reception

Walter Thomas Mills of New York,
the national organizer of the Social
Democratic party, gave one Of his
Characteristic speeches to crowd Of
five hundred people at the Rhode Opera
House Wednesday evening in opening
the Social Democratic campaign in the
county and while many of the people
there did not agree with Mills for a
minute, the speech was an eloquent
one and held the crowd for fully two
hours.
Mills was right on the job all the
time and the manner in which he
fayed the two old parties stirred up the
greatest enthusiasm among the Social
lists present Mills did not handle any
one with gloves and he was impartial
in the hot snot he poured into the
camps of the Republicans, the Demo.
Gratis and the independence League.
He roasted Bryan, scorched Taft and
landed hard on Hearst and Hisgen q
half a dozen times during the evening
and offered the old panacea of public
ownership and public management of
everything as the only solution for the
great political problems of the day.
He gave most of his time to the dis
cussion of railroads, monopolies and in
functions He declared that Taft fay.
ored the private ownership and private
management of the railway, Bryan the
private ownership and public manage
ment of the railways and Hearst the
public ownership and management, but
without any management of the Deepen
dent monopoles He said that he
favored the public ownership and man
agement Of not only the railways, but
also of every allied corporation. He
declared that the regulation Of the rail
ways would simply open the way fol
the people to be robbed by some other
monopoly and that just as soon as the
railways were regulated the people
would pay through some other monopo
lv. He declared that the old axiom
that competition was the life of trade
was a lie and that he had found and
could prove that competition was the
father of monopoly. He declared that
the only remedy would be to have the
great industries owned and managed
by the men who did the work of pro
ductiOn He had a lot to say about
iniunctions and declared that both Taft
and Bryan were in favor of continuing
the war between the laboring men ani
capital and that the only difference be
tween the two men was the manner il
which the tight should be carried on.
In closing Mills made great plea
for a million votes for Debs at tho
coming election declaring that if Deb'
got million votes this year thu
troubles of the Social Democratic party
would be over as this show of strength
on the part of Socialism would result
in readiustment of the old parties.
At the close of the speech Mills of
fered to debate with any one on thu
political issues, but he failed to ge
an opponent and he spent the half hou1
which was to have been given for Thu
debate in answering questions fred a
him from the audience.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
Police of the City Making One Last
Effort to Collect the Dog Taxes

The police of the city are making a
vigorous effort to save the dog tax
ordinance from repeal and to this end
two officers are making a house to
house canvass of the city with view
of seeing that every dog is taxed and
the money paid into the police pension
fund. The work of the officers stimu-
lated the collection of the tax to such
an extent that fifty dog owners have
settled with the city clerk and it is
expected that there will be a great rush
to get the dog tax tags during the next
few days. The police officers win visit
every house in the city and if the peo-
pie do not get the licenses after a
reasonable time the dogs will be pla led
in the dog pound and zilleu after be-
ing held for the legal period under the
law.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
ROMANCE OF THE BARRACKS

The ending Of a romance Of the army
barracks had its elimination in Keno
sha on Sunday morning when Thomas
Fl. Leary, a soldier in the United
States army stationed at TT. Sheridan,
was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Maurer Of Highwood. The ceremony
was performed by the Rev. E. 7. Far
rill at the manse of the First Congre-
gational church just before church ser
vice on Sunday morning. Private
Leary and his bride left at once for
TT. Sheridan where they will make
their home.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORDS
Total Attendance Will Reach 1900
Gain of 331 Students

The registration at the close of the
first week at the University of Wiscon
sin shows an increase of 331 students
over the number enrolled at the same
time last year. This gain indicates
that the total number of students at
the university this year will be over
1890 There has been a gain in every
college this year. In the college of
letters and science 1,754 students are
enrolled, gain of 167. The college
Of engineering has 847 students, a gain
Of 80. The greatest increase is in the
college of agriculture, where 205 have
entered thus far, an increase Of 80,
or "a per cent. The college of law
has 137 students, gain Of IL. There
are 80 students thus far in the school
of pharmacy, 10 more than last year
at this time.
The total gain thus far Of 331 in
addition to the 1925 students in the
summer session, which was an increase
of 364 over last year, indicates that
the total enrolment for the whole year
will be at least 1900 or about 500
more students thar we're in attendance
last year.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
ARE AFTER DEAD HEADS
Department Of Commerce and Labor
Getting Information First Hand

During the last few days representa-
tives of the Department of Commerce
and Labor of the national government
have been in Kenosha seeking informa-
ton in regard to the number of 9 dead ,
heads carried by the Kenosha Electric
Railway Company and the Chicago and
Milwaukee Company. It is claimed
that the national government. is seek
ing to prosecute city, county and state
officials who are accepting free trans
portation from the railway companies
superintendent Russell stated that he
had not been asked to give any data
on the free passengers carried but that
he had seen the men riding on the ears
seeking this information first hand
The only officials riding on passes in
Kenosha include the members Of the
fire and police department.. There is
some doubt as to whether or not these
people have a right to accept favors
from the company and developments
are being awaited with a great deal
of interest by the officials. All passes
to city officials were revoked many
months ago by the companies.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
SEEKS AID HERE
Senator LaF gillette Asks Friends Here
TO Aid in Securing Subscriptions

w GA@NA A4A ASIICA44A5 hGADDGAL SG4C44O
Senator Robert M. LaFollette has
appealed to his friends in Kenosha
county for aid in the establishment of
his proposed Republican Magazine and
this morning hundreds of residents of
the city received letters from the sena-
tor asking that they aid in securing
subscriptions for the proposed maya
zine. The price of it is to be a dol
lar a year In these letters the senator
states that be plans to discuss men and
measures impa1tially and that he will
from time to time publish the political
record Of men IN the country. He is
planning to issue the first edition about
the last of this month and expects to
have the first edition out before cleo
ton. The Kenosha people are not very
enthusiastic over the proposed plan Of
the senator and many of the letters
will probably never be answered.
Others who are more loyal are solicit
ing aid for the proposed magazine and
it is probable that the Senator editor
will get a pretty good list from this
county.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
HOUSE CLEANING BRINGS FIRE
Damage of $50 Done at the Home OF
Robert Krah on Middle Street

House cleaning caused the Kenosha
fire department to be called out on
Thursday afternoon on account of a
fire at the residence of Robert Krah,
well known musician of the city a
lot of bed clothing and two feather
beds had been hung on the porch of
the Krah house for airing when it is
supposed that some careless person
threw a match on the porch and the
flames spread from the match to the
feather beds. Before the members of
the fire department had extinguished
the flames the porch had been badly
seorched and The bedding and feather
beds were reduced to heap of ashes,
1t is thought that the starting of the
fire was purely an accident, but the
fire and police officials are looking in,
to the case.