The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-02-04

A0nSe q tue HoI th was vigorous and eX-
pressiye, but it was not nearly so
picturesque as that handed out by Al,
derman Q 'Brien. 1t was q delightful
study of two varying schools of pro,
family. 0 'Bnen was evidently net sat.
iSfed with what he had started on this
line and in a playful way ne made some
reference to the $4,000" crossing.
This brought-the mayor to the defense
Of Wade and O 'Brien stood unmoved
while cannon in front of him and can
non behind him volleyed and Numbered.
1t was at this time that the mayor ac.
cused o 'Brien of having a political
axe to grind and the alderman from the
First came back and declared that it
had been his custom to get votes on
his merits ana not on his promises.
The reply infatuated the mayor all the
more and the exchanges that follow
ed was so rich that it would be impos-
sible to portray it in cold black type.
Wade finally referred back to the time
when C2Brien was at the head of the
street department. and O'Brien came
back with bunch of hot shot. In
words pr0fanely deep he told the alder
man from the Sixth of how the com
mittee under his direction had kept the
streets in good oruer on an appropria-
ton of $4,000 a year with an over,
draft of only $4,000 while the records
showed that Wades committee had ex-
pended more than $4,000 in eight
months. At this point the language
became so vigorous that the mayor de-
clared 0 'BTien out of order and he
subsidized with an apology to the
Council for anything that he had said
which might have been considered as
a step over the line of the dignity of
an alderman.
A safety valve was found in a long
report from the Commission which had
been named to consider the extension
Of Linden street and City Attorney
Slater and City Clerk Harrington were
kept busy for more than half an hour
reading this report. The commission
ers assessed benefits and damages and
the amount Of the benefits over the
damages was just about enough to take
care Of the pay of the commissioners.
1t is probable that the report will be
acted on at the first meeting Of the
Council in March and it is generally
believed that the report of the Conn
mission will be confirmed
Alderman Pirsch following the report
of the finance committee took a new
shot at the water department. AMI made
a movement to get the control Of the
bonds of the department into the hands
Of the city. He declared that tn" city
was paying too much for hydrant rental
and urged Tefunding of the water
company's bonds by issuing city water
bonds. He claimed that the bonds
could be refunded at lower rate of
interest and in this way the city be
saved considerable money.
The matter was referred to the f.
nance committee with orders to report
at the first meeting Of the Council in
March. The Water Commission was
given another bump when the Council
against the report Of the committee
on building and water works voted to
charge the Water Company an annual
rental Of $25 for desk room in the of
fee Of the city engineer.
The Council got together on one
thing and that was the purchase of
the property owned by the nurkee
heirs at the end of Washington street.
The city attorney was directed to take
such steps as were necessary to close
the deal for a consideration Of 81 LOCO,
the price set by the present owners
of the property.
At this stage the monotony of real
business was broken again by wordy
discussion of the merits of a petition
for the vacation Of an alley aust back
of what is known as the Monaghan
building at the corner o. West Min
and Market streets. Charles Hastings
owns the building and he urged the va
cation but James Filbin also owns prop
erty in the neighborhood and he didn't
urge it. The committee took the view
oe Filbin and the Council refused to
take any action in the matter and the
petition was not granted.
The report of the committee on
streets and alleys of the two and a
half miles of pavement in the city,
which was alleged to have been left
in bad condition by the Kenosha Gas
and Electric Company, was brought up
and accepted It carried with it a
recommendation that the city take no
action on a lighting contract until all
of this pavement was restored to its
pristine glory. The members of the
Council were badly divided on this
plan, some of them believing that it
was decidedly bad business policy
to mix up lighting contract with the
enforcement of a city ordnance, but
the matter was finally put to vote
and the mayor voted in favor of the
report of the committee to decide the
tie Aldermen Q 'Brien, Schultz, Mar
latt, Thomassen Swift, Disch, Schend,
and Mayer voted against the report of