The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-08
HEARINGS ARE SET
State Railroad Commission To
Take Action Of Kenosha Gas
Complaint on Oct. 81
ALL HEARINGS TOGETHER
State Commission Will Act on Com
plant of Former Mayor German
and On the One Instituted
by the Commission Itself

After waiting for more than six
months the Wisconsin State Railway
Commission is finally planning to take
up the various cases growing out Of
the investigation of the Kenosha Gas
and Electric Company and the calen-
dar of the Commission which was made
public this morning shows that the
Kenosha case is to be taken up on
Oct. n There will be three separate
hearings in connection with the case,
opening with hearing on the valua-
ton of the property owned by the
company as set by the State Railway
Commission. 1t is expected that the
company will make no serious obiec-
ton to the valuation placed on the
property Of the company, as it under
stood that the valuation was made
with the aid and suggestion of the of
fcials of the company. This hearing
will be started at two O'Clock on the
afternoon named and Immediately fol
lowing this hearing the Commission
will take up the hearing of the com
plant of James German against the
company. This complaint deals es-
pecially with the rates now being
charged by the company. In his com
plant former Mayor German declares
that the rate are unreasonable and IN
just. The third hearing will be on
the Investigation Of the rates charged
for gas and electric light began at
the order of the Commission The
third will in all probability be the
most important hearing of the day.
Both German and the Commission are
expected to have witnesses on hand to
testify in support Of the claims made
against the company. No regular sum
mons has as yet been issued for the
witnesses, but it is expected that they
will be served within the next ten
days.
The committee of the Common Coun-
Gil has not as yet held any conference
with the Kenosha Gas and Electric
Company in regard to the proposed
new contract for the supply of street
lights to the city, and it is just pos
sible that the Council will decide to
lay this whole matter over until af
ter the State Commission has rendered
a decision in the matter The Kenosha
contract will not expire until late in
the summer of 1909 so that there can
be no great haste to get the contract
signed unless the Council still plans
for the building of municipal plant
to take care Of the lighting of the
city. This plan is still being discussed
but the Council could no nothing with
out the consent of the State Commits
sion and it is pretty certain that the
Commission will give no decision un-
il after the investigation has been com
pleted and a decision in regard to rates
reached. It is very evident that the
Council will not get any other PROPOSE
ton to furnish the lights and investi-
cations that have been made seem to
indicate that the price offered by the
company is pretty fair price for the
service.
1t is possible that the committee
will be urged to make some report at
the meeting Of the Council on Monday
evening, but a majority Of the older
men seem to be in favor of leaving the
matter open until after the State Com
mission makes it's ruling on the rates
and quality Of service in Kenosha at
the present time.