The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-09-10
ASKS new CONTRACT
Ksnosha Gas 8 Electric Co. Offers
Lower Rates to City for q
Ten Year Contract
CAN'T SMOKE scHoLEY OUT
Mayor Refuses to Make Public the
Name Of His Special Detective
and Council May Decline to
Pay for Further Service

The Kenosha Gas and Electric Com
pany offered new contract to the city
at the meeting Of the Common Council
on Monday evening ign which they offer
to reduce the cost Of the lighting of
the city by a rate Of SIS year per
light on the present system of lighting
and in addition the company agrees to
furnish an all night system of lighting
to the city at rate lower by con-
siderable than is now charged for Light
ing theooaty on the moonlight schedule.
The proposition of the company seems
tolbe fair one considering the circum-
stances and the members of the Coun-
Gil seem to be in favor of giving it a
consider ation that will be entirely bust
ness Like. The manager Of the com
pany declares that the rate is lower
than he has a right to offer, but that
he is tanxious to show the people of the
city that he will give every possible
consideration to the demands of the
city. The contract proposed by the
company would result lin the city Sc
curing lights for FIVE years at rate
of $63 year on the moonlight schedule
or $72 year on an all night schedule
for five year term, but if the city
wants to make ten year contract the
rate Will be cut to $50 and 500 year.
The Council took no action on the prop
osition more than to refer lit to the
committee on gas and lights and this
committee will hold a conference with
the manager of the company and bring
a report to the Council in the near
future. Recently an examination OF
the rates charged in other cities was
made and it should be said that the
rate proposed by the company is pretty
close to what was at that time con-
sidered an equitable rate.
There was little else of interest at
the Council. An effort was made to
smoke out the mayor in regard to his
employment of a special detective, but
the effort failed of it's purpose as the
mayor refused to give. out any informa-
ton in regard to the identity of the
detective or what he had done since
AS appointment little over two
months ago. The mayor got consfdera-
bly, warm under the collar when he was
urged to tell the Council who the man
was and what he was doing and de-
clared that this was matter of pri-
vate business. One of the aldermen OBJ
jected to the mayor holding that the
city business was private business and
the mayor threatened to leave the
mayor g chair and turn it over to the
alderman and 90 in as alderman of the
ward. It all ended in talk and the
mayor finally agreed to present a re-
port in regard to the detective at the
next meeting. The secrecy Of the
mayor in regard to the name of the
man after his term has expired is re-
garded as a little strange and it is
thought possible that the detective will
have considerable trouble collecting
money for his services beyond the ORR
ginal two months.
The Four ward is threatened with
an engine house as Alderman Higley
of that ward announced last night that
he had received notice from the heirs
Of the late Edward Balm that they
would present the city with site for
an engine house. The site in question
is located on Newell street just short
distance from Park street. 1t is valued
at $4,000 and is regarded as a perfect
place for an engine house. It is un-
derstood that the Thomas B. Jeffery
Company will make substantial gift
to the city in the way of a building
on this lot.
The. report Of the city treasurer show
ed balance in bank of sos, 127 go, but
as the Council ordered that Davidson
and GalEgan be paid eighty per cent
of the amount due to them for the re-
surfacing Of Durkee avenue there will
not be so much money in the treasury
at the next report by several thousand
dollars.
The report of the chief of police for
the last three. months showed that 249
arrests had been made The depart
ment had recovered $1,621 worth of
stolen property and had earned fees
aggregating $189.98.
Chief of Police O'Hare asked that
the force be. increased by the addition
Of another patrolman and it is probable
that the Council will grant the request
after the mayors special detective has
been disposed of.
The committee on judiciary probably
started someth4ng when they reported
to the Council in favor of paying the
two per cent conected from the insur-
ance companies prior to the first of
January to the volunteer fire depart
ment. The pension board Of the fire
department claims one-half of this
amount and it is probable that the
case will get into court. The Council
adopted the report Of the committee
and under it's decision the volunteers
will get the money to divide among
them.
The mayor was directed to notify the
TN,oc+os,, 4I,o4 4Io 1,,I1J;v,or