The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-11-19
Kenosha Aldermen Watching the
Fight for Free Phones Being
Made in Superior
GET FIGURES ON WATER CO.
State Railway Commission is Given
List of all Institutions Receiving
Free Water From Kenosha
Municipal Plant

Members of the Common Council are
watching with great deal Of interest
the developments of an action started
by the City Of Superior against the
State Railway Commission relating to
the collection Of tolls from the city by
, the Superior Telephone Company. The
case is identical with the conditions
prevailing in Kenosha and it is thought
that a way will be discovered which
will give the Kenosha City Council a
chance to get free telephones. The
City of Superior had contract with
the telephone company similar to the
one held by the Kenosha City Council
and franchise rights had been granted
to the company in consideration of
these concessions to the city. Under
the ruling Of the Railway Commission
the City of Superior is now forced to
pay tolls to the telephone company.
It is understood that the matter will
be taken to the Supreme Court Of the
state and the decision should be of
greatest Importance in Kenosha. The
Kenosha City Council has directed the
payment of the bills of the Kenosha
Home Telephone Company with the
strict understanding with President
Cavanagh that the company will fur.
nish free service if the city can find
any way to safe guard the company
against prosecution under the direction
of the Railway Commission.
In the meantime the Commission is
getting busy along other lines and
City Engineer Moth of the Water Com
pany, has been directed to furnish to
the Commission a full list of all in
stitutions in Kenosha receiving free
water from the Kenosha Municipal
Water Company. The list of these in
stitutions has been forwarded to Madi-
son and it is just possible that the
Commission may plan to force the
municipal company to cut off this free
service. It is difficult to see why any
action of this kind should be taken as
most of the institutions receiving free
water are distinctly municipal institu-
tions. The list includes the various
schools, the public library, the police
and fire department Offices, the city
offices and the Kenosha hospital. The
last named institution is the only one
not directly or Indirectly under the
management of the city.
The largest users of free water in the
city are the school buildings, but at
the same time nothing would be gained
by metering water to these buildings
as the bill would have to be paid by
the tax payers just the same and the
Board Of Education would have to 90
to large expense in the installation
Of water meters and connections for
them. There is one reduced rate in
Kenosha that may fall under the rule
of the Commission and that is the rate
granted to street sprinklers. Tt is
barely possible that in short time
the Commission will make a ruling
that all water sold by companies
whether municipal or private com
panies shall be SOLD by meter. This
rule would undoubtedly result in a
saving in water bills to some Of the
people who are now paying on the old
If fiat" basis. Most Of these people
have not put in the meters on account
Of the first cost of the meter, but the
officials of the local company are adj
vising the installation of meters as
rapidly as possible. It is certain that
any interference with the water rates
by the State Board would cause a
storm of disapproval as it would re
quire large amount of unnecessary
bookkeeping without any material in
crease in the receipts of the company.