The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-07-02
ORDER LICENSE INVESTIGATION
Aldermen Question Right of Mayor to
Preside as Head Executive of City
and Also Hold Saloon License
Other Business of the Council.

The bitter fight between the mayor
and the so-called insurgents of the
common council was featured again at
the meeting Of the council on Tues
day evening and clashes between the
mayor and President Thomey and other
council leaders. Thomey in a sensation
al manner charged the mayor with an
attempt to remove from the city pay
roll we'll tried workmen and food the
roll with his political friends and the
mayor sputtered for more than half
an hour in his effort to clear himself
OF the charges brought by the alder
man. He brought into play all of the
old sophistries of caring for the poor
and looking after the interests of the
taxpayers, but when the smoke Of the
battle cleared away the mayor had
been given to understand that his right
to discharge men and to order the EN-
ployment Of others was thing of the
past and that in the future the street
commissioners would take orders only
from the street and alley committee.
1t was alleged that the mayor had
sent his personal card to the street
commissioner of the west division in
he keeping Of men whom he demanded
be put to work The mayor alleged
that the men had been men who had
chillren to support aud that he had
taNeu this actor to help out the pau.
per department. Alderman Thomcy
retorted that the men for the most
part were saloon buns and that
tbs mayor had put them to work to
supplaut faithful workers. The mayor
waSed eloquent in his defiance to the
council. He went a long ways and
deded every one, declaring that it was
the right of the mayor to look af-
ter the poor The aldermen declared
that at least one man put to work was
single foreigner and they intimated
that the only reason he had for going
to work was to prevent saloon man
being forced to pay money that he
owed the foreigner
The exchange Of courtesies between
the mayor and President Thomey was
vigorous to put il lightly, The mayor
sprang his final coup when he declared
that in the future he would instruct
the city clerk not to issue any orders
to any person who held an Office in the
city where it was shown that the per-
son was either directly or indirectly
interested in any contract with any
department of the city, He swung
down the gavel and declared the Incl
deut closed, but in second nc found
that it was just opening, Alderman
Kisten was on his feet in second
and declared that so long as contract
ing with the city was to be inves
tigated that he would demand that the
right of the mayor and certain alder
men to hold their Office, draw their
salaries and still vote on their own
saloon licenses be investigated. Presi-
dent Thomey hurried to the aid of
Kisten with a motion to refer to the
license committee lie right of the
mayor and members of the council to
hold saloon licenses and still vote on
the management of the saloons. This
was a body blow for the mayor and his
closest adherents and the motion to re-
fer this matter was carried without
division.
This is a proposition which has long
been demanding solution in Keno
sha aud it is certain that the commit,
tee viii 60 into the matter as deeply
as possible and when its report is
rendered it will be after the highest
officials in the state have decided on
the question Of the right Of man
holding saloon license To Sit on 4
common council and vote on his Ii.
eense Saloon men have been pretty
successful in keeping this big question
from coming to an issue in past years
but it is one which has been prominent
" urged against the present mayor and
some Of his closest political friends
The meeting of the council was little
less than riot from start to finish.
The lobby was packed with people.
They thronged the hall outside the
council chamber Prominent in the
body Of people attending the sessions
were score of members of the new
City club among the women of the city
and the applause and Kisses of the
women We're for the first time featur-
ed as part Of council meeting. At
one time during the session the mayor
threatened to clear the lobby on ac-
ssunt Of the Kissing. 1t was a great