The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-11-19
SPECIAL Committee Of Council
Tells How Water Commission
Turned Them Down
COUNCIL HOLDS MILD SESSION
Committee Reports in Favor of Letting
Contract for Street Lighting to
Kenosha Company But
Action is Deferred

The City Council met in mild and
subdued session at the City Hall Mon
day night and for the first time since
the Inauguration of the present Coun-
Gil the work Of the meeting was con
cluded by ten clock and what is more
it was finished up without single
wrangle in which personalities cut a
figure.
There were several matters of i'm
portance came up during the session,
but they were taken care of in a bust
ness like manner which left no room
for useless argument.
There was a large crowd of tax pay
ers in the lobby expecting that the
contest between the Council and the
Water Commissioners would bring a
bristling argument, but they were
doomed to disappointment as when the
matter came up it was in the manner
of report from the special committee
which was adopted without any com
ment. The report carried with it no
recommendation for action and none
was taken by the Council. The report
of the committee follows:
''Your special committee pursuant
to the unanimous vote and action of
the Common Council on the 18th inst.
to meet the Board of Water Commits
sioners of the City Of Kenosha and dis
cuss with them thoroughly the question
of providing better and pure water,
and to report back to Your Honorable
body, respectfully represent:
"That your committee caused the
Board Of Water Commissioners to be
duly notified of the action of the Com
mon Council and that your committee
was ready to confer and discuss the
question of a better water supply with
the Water Commissioners, and were
informed and advised that the Water
Commissioners, after due consideration
arbitrarily declined and refused to
meet, confer or discuss the matter with
the special committee appointed by the
mayor pursuant to the action of your
Honorable body.
"That your committee are advised
that the Water Commissioners gave out
and attempted to mislead the public
into the belief that a conference with
your committed amounted to an inter
ference with the duties of the Water
Commissioners and a dictation to the
Board.
"Your committee repudiate any such
imputation, and insist that the only
purpose of the committee was to discuss
the best plan for securing to our citi-
zens the much needed purer water sup
ply to which they are entitled.
''Your committee deplore the action
of the Water Commissioners as with
out warrant of law or precedent, and
contrary to the principles of American
government, and condemn the arbi-
trary, vicious, insulting and despotic
action of the Water Commissioners in
their uncalled for open defiance to the
action and request of the Common
Council and respectfully refer the mat
ter to your Honorable body"
Peter Pirsch,
George Wade,
J. A. Thomassen,
George w. Higley
Alderman o 'Brien, who was mem
Der of the special committee declined
to sign the. report and he supplemented
the report with the statement that he
would never vote for an ordinance to
amend the ordinance governing the
Water Commission. This statement
only produced a laugh and the matter
passed The clerk then read COM
munication from the Board of Water
Commissioners stating that the com
mission would be pleased to meet the
Council committee on water works at
any time and this was accepted and
placed on file without comment.
The committee on gas and light
brought in a report favoring the let
ting of the contract for street lighting
to the Kenosha, Gas and Electric Com
pany. Chairman Schend of the com
mittee stated that he had made an ex-
animation and had secured figures from
other people and that the committee
had found the bid of the old company
the lowest figure offered. AS some Of
the members were not ready tc take
final action on the matter the report
was laid over until the next regular
meeting of the Council at which time
it is expected that the contract will be
awarded to the Kenosha Gas and Elec
trio Company. There may be some
struggle on the part of the Council
in regard to the life of the new con
tract some of the members being op