The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-04-06
CAUSES ATTORNEYS TO DOUBT
At Hearing on Saturday Governor
Goes Into Merits OF the Bill Deeply.
Company Must Now Secure DE-
solving of Injunction.

The franchise of the Kenosha Elec-
trio Railway company to enter the
lighting field in Kenosha was validated
this morning when Governor McGovern
approved the Bishop Bill which provid-
ed for the valuation of the action of
the council. The bill was signed just
after ten clock and the news was
telegraphed to Kenosha and caused
great rejoicing among the men who
had been active in securing the pass
age of the bill. 1t will be officially
printed by the state this afternoon and
will become effective on publication.
However, it will not be possible for
the Kenosha Electric Railway company
to at once 90 after business along this
line as there is still an injunction
against it issued by the Circuit court
and this must be dissolved before the
company is free to act 1t is thought
that this will be mere formal matter
since the law will dc away with the
objections raised by the attorneys of
the Kenosha Gas and Electric company
on whose complaint the injunction was
issued. The hearing on the bill before
the Governor was held late Saturday
afternoon.
Attorney Chester D. Barnes of
Kenoshal appeared in opposition
to the bill and the Governor was
urged to approve it by Attorney Walt
er Drew, who appeared as attorney for
the Railway npa1y. The Governor
gave the attorneys a chance to see that
he was something of a cross question
er himself and the questions that he
put to Mr. Barnes indicated that he
would sign the bill while those given to
Mr.. Drew indicated just as strongly
that the Governor would not approve
the bill.
There was no consideration of
charges of fraud on the part Of the
Governor as he waved aside the argu-
mepts of the attorney along this line.
81 don t care to hear anything about
that phase of the question:" said the
Governor, "for do not believe that it
is in any way germane to the question.
1t matters not to the state just how
this franchise ordinance was passed by
the City of Kenosha. The question to
be decided is a much broader one. -
The Governor then declared that the
first question to be considered was the
fact as to whether or noe tie Railroad
Commission had adequate powers under
the law to take charge of the situation
in Kenosha. lie intimated that he con
sidered tn, matter one Of state policy
and that he must consider the effect
that such legislation would have ON
the future workings of the Railroad
Commission in Kenosha as well as in
other cities in the state. He went in
to the question of the passage of the
law extending time for the public SER
vice corporations to surrender their
franchises and accept indeterminate
permits and questioned as to whether
or not the legislature would have made
this legislation effective at the time It
did had the members known Of the con
ditions. existing about the pending
franchise before the Common Council
Of Kenosha. He declared that the bill
was a much more important one than
appeared on the face of it and insisted
that he would have to give it a great
deal of consideration along the lines
outlined before he decided whether to
approve or veto it.