The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-07-08
Quiet Move Being Started for The
Adoption of a Commission
Government in kenosha
WOULD END OLD REGIME
New Plan Would Provide for the Elec-
ton of a Mayor at a Salary of
$4,000 and Two Councilman
for Long Terms

I
A quiet movement is being started
in Kenosha winch has for it's end a
complete revolution in the form of gov
eminent of the city and which contem-
plates the doing away with the present
government of the city by a mayor
and Common Council and the substi-
tuting for it of Commission consist
ing of mayor and two Council men
elected at large from the city, Attor
neys who are said to represent the
large tax payers in the city have to-
day been making a close examination
Of the new law and it is said that some
movement of an open nature will be
started during the next few days.
Should the movement prove a success
all the present government functions
in Kenosha would be turned over to a
Commission. Under the law this can
be done provided that a majority of
the people of the city vote to give the
Commission plan trial. If such a
majority vote is secured the plan of
government must continue for six years
and at the end of that time the people
may elect to return to the old form
of city control.
The law provides for the election of
mayor for six years and two mem
bers of the Council to be known as
'councilmen. The terms Of the
councilmen will be for two and four
years, but their successors will be elect
ed for a term of four years These
three officials viii make up the Com
mission and have entire charge Of the
city. The mayor will receive a salary
of $4,000 year and the members of
the Council $4,000. No man who is
licensed to operate a saloon will be
able to qualify for any of these posi-
tions. The law provides that the three
officials shall be nominated by a pri-
mary election and voted for at the
regular spring election to be held on
the first Tuesday in April after the
city adopts the Commission form Of
government The three officials VIXEN
elected shall take the place of the
present Common Council and at the
time of. the organization of the Com
mission it will by a majority elect a
city clerk, city treasurer, comptroller,
corporation counsel and such other Of
ficers as may be needed for the opera
| tion of the various departments of
the city. The Commission is given
power to fix the salaries of these of
fcials. The mayor and councilmen are
required to give their time to the du-
ties of their offices.
The Commission is given power to
pass ordinances and in fact all the
powers of the Common Council at the
present time. The mayor, however,
has no veto power. Any ordinance
passed by the Commission may become
inactive 1t twenty-five per cent of the
electors of the city shall petition
against it within ten days after it's
passage.
In order to submit the question of
the adoption Of the Commission govern
ment to the city it is necessary that
twenty-five per cent of the electors pc
tition for such an election and if such
a petition is fled the mayor must name
a date for the election within two
months after the petition reaches him.
Several organizations in the city
have been carefully looking into the
Commission government rule and it is
possible that a union of these bodies
can be erected in order to have the
matter submitted to the people of the
city. Several Wisconsin cities have al
ready declared in favor Of an election
for the purpose of accepting tbs terms
of the new law and further action
along this line in Kenosha will be
watched with great deal of interest