The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-12-24
CITY COUNCIL NOTES.


lots is now in force.
The offer of Mr.. Kautsky to sell to the
city his slaughter house situated on the
CITY land was turned down. The city
solons want no Municipal abattoir hav-
ing nothing to kill but proposals of the
Socialist aldermen.
Herman Schuette has followed Berlin
Hall in resigning from the Fire and
Police Commission.
The city has practically decided to use
the old State street bridge at the Little
Manitowoc and it may be moved this
winter.
The council heard an extensive report
of the Health Officer, DR.. j. E. Meany,
upon TIE late small pox epidemic, which
doled out expressions of gratitude to
everyone connected in any way with it
except the members Of the local press.
They were not even damned with faint
praise but with utter silence.
Some Of the aldermen think 80 cents
is too much to pay for vaccination, es'
pecially when done in lunches and the
disposition to cut the bills Of Drs.
Meany and Shimek on these items was
manifest.
The city will sell no more gravel from
it's nit Schmitz and Schellin voted
mo"
Alderman Plumb wants city weigher
30 that cheese shippers will not be com
PEELED to accept the consignees scaling.
Perhaps we will have one.
A bill against the city by the Gas Co.
was referred to the city attorney. They
weren't in a mood for gas bills this
week
Chief Groffman filed the first Of his
new semi annual reports, furnishing In.
terestiug and valuable statistics and
data touching the conduct of his depart
ment.
Under decision of the city attorney
the residents near 18th and Washington
streets cannot have the water pipe exten
sion they want until they proceed rs the
franchise requires.
The recent 'gas" decision of the state
rate Commission occupied several hours
of the time of the city council Monday
pieht. The only formal action taken
was the adoption of resolution, upon
the recommendation of the Electric
Light ana Gas committee, prOviuinK
that the city petition the commission for
re.hearing in the matter. On Tues
day the City Attorney forwarded the
petition The council appears to be of
the opinion that the equity of rescind-
ing the order in respect to the service
charge and other things can be estab-
lished
A resolution emanating from Alder
man Feurpheil demanding of the next
Legislature the abolition OF tie commits
sion was tabled until after the commits
sion shall have again passed upon the
local problem or refused to pass upon
it. They passed upon it with such rs.
tonishing frequency for two days that
est to them; quite passe indeed. Threats
of having the city cease being consum'
or of the gas company's product in case
the new rates are enforced, were freely
voiced and rumors of general move
ment that way were prevalent.
City Attorney Hougen filed written
report upon the gas problem. In clear
and unmistakable language he showed
the unreasonableness of the decision. The
following is the report
TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND BOARD
or ALDERMEN:
The Railroad Commission has made
what 1t calls a temporary order upon
the subject of gas rates in this city. The
order Gxes the charge for gas for illumi-
mating and heating at $l.95 per thous-
ami feet gross, and S1.00 net with a
meter charge added of twenty five cents
per month for each consumer. The ord
or is dated December II, 1908, AMI goes
into effect at the end of twenty days.
Under the order the rates for gas for
lighting to those using less than one
thousand feet per month and to those
using gas for fuel are increased. To
those using gas for lighting to the ex'
tent of more than one thousand feet pei
month, the rate is reduced Those us
ing gas for fuel only, suffer an increase
OF 3d. 90 per year. This is for the arbi
trary charge of twenty-five cents pei
month called meter or service charge
No reason whatever is given by the Com
mission for authorizing this charge. Ac
cordirg to the report Of the engineers
on the valuation Of the plant, the total
cost of the service pipe work and house
piping is 1913, 0S3.00 for 154l consumers
or $S SO for each This is the average
cost plus 12% added by the Commits
sion, 80 that the actual cost would be
81. 80 for each 1t takes two men five
days per month to read meters which
costs about $l5 90 month, or $50. 90 pei
year. | think no one would have objec
ton to a reasonable minimum charge
but there seems to be quite general OBJ
lection to this arbitrary charge. The
Commission, as | say, has given no rea
sons for making the order which il