The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-09-03
Simmons Manufacturing Co. and
City Officials Clash Over
Sidewalk Ordinance
CERTIFIED CHECK OR BOND
Mayor scholey Calls Special Meeting
of the Council for the Considera-
ton of the Matter
This Afternoon
(From Monday s Daily)


The Kenosha sidewalk ordinance
brought new troubles for the city Of
ficials this morning and as a result a
special meeting Of the Council was call.
ed for this afternoon to CONSIDER the
latest difficulty in connection with the
ordinance.
The call for the special meeting was
issued as a result of a clash. between the
city officials and the officials of the
Simmons Manufacturing company. At
the last meeting of the Council the
Simmons Company. was given permis-
sion to modify the rules of the city ID
regard to the buioang of sidewalk on
Pearl street along the south side Of
the property owned by the company.
work OH tue sidewalk was started on
Saturday and it was the intention of
the company to have the work done
by their own workmen. Consent for
this had been given by the officials, but
the company was instructed that it
would be necessary to put up a bond
Of $4,000 to insure the building of the
walk in keeping with the ordinance
but the company failed to put up the
bond and the work proceeded
This morning City Engineer Moth
went to the work ard directed the men
at work to stop work until the bond had
been filed with the city engineers of
fee. The officials Of the company ord
cred the men to proceed with the work
land the city engineer again ordered
the work stopped. However, the work
proceeded and the matter was then re
ferred to Mayor Scholey and the City
Attorney. attorney Slater and the
mayor went at once to the plant and
had conference with z. G.. Simmons
who had ordered the work continued.
The officials stated that Mr. Simmons
declined to put up a bond, but con
scented to put up certified check for
the amount Qemandeo by the city.
This the mayor stated could not be ac-
cepted under the ordinance as it clear
ly called for a bond signed by a surety
company. In the meantime the work on
the walk went on and the officials not
desiring to call out the police to stop
the-Work on their own initiative it was
decided to call special meeting of the
Council to look into the matter and
reach decision in regard to the ac-
ceptance of the certified check.
The officials hold that the certified
check is not in keeping with the de-
mandS of the ordinance and while none
them question the value of the check
offered by Mr.. Simmons they insist that
it would be setting a bad precedent
to accept certified check in this case.
They hold that if the certified check
is accepted in this case every side walk
builder in the city VIII be insisting
that the city accept similar guarantees
from them and that the ordinance viii
practically be nullifed 50 far as the
tond provision is concerned
At the meeting Of the Council the
assistant chief of police was directed
TO stop all work on the sidewalk until
the Simmons Manufacturing Company
lad complied with the ordinance of the
city and furnished a proper surety
bond. Tt looks as if a merry war is
on and it may be several days before
the matter is settled